Một dự án của Lê Mai A Lê Mai project · go to lemai.com.vn

Ajowan

Ajowan, Hương nhu Ấn, Caraway Ấn

Trachyspermum ammi

Ajwain, Bishop's weed, Sprague

Apiaceae · Hạt · Seeds · Steam-distilled


Botanical illustration of Trachyspermum ammi, whose seeds yield Ajowan essential oil
Ajowan essential oil, extracted from the seeds of Trachyspermum ammi. Botanical illustration, Lê Mai Library.

Safety

Skin irritant · Drug interaction

Drug interactions. May inhibit blood clotting due to high thymol and carvacrol content.

Low skin irritation risk. Moderate mucous membrane irritation.

Oral: avoid with anticoagulant medication, before major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia.

Thymol and carvacrol inhibit platelet aggregation — an essential step in the blood clotting cascade.


Usage guidelines

Maximum dermal level
1.4 percent
Basis
Combined thymol + carvacrol 70.2%
Drug interactions
Anticoagulant medication

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
Thymol36.9 – 53.8 %
γ-Terpinene14.6 – 35.0 %
p-Cymene20.8 – 24.0 %
Carvacrol1.0 – 16.4 %
Limonene0.25 – 5.1 %
β-Pinene1.2 – 3.5 %
α-Pinene0.3 – 1.8 %

Botanical source

Trachyspermum ammi belongs to the Apiaceae family, related to celery, parsley, carrot.

Seeds are widely used as spice in Indian cuisine. The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation.

Mainly produced in India. Rarely found outside India, the Seychelles and the West Indies.


Notes

A thymol-free variant of ajowan oil exists — containing 46% carvone and 38% limonene.

Due to high phenolic content, ajowan belongs to the higher-irritation-risk group. Dilute thoroughly before skin contact.