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Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 569087.  Published online 2014 Jun 25. doi: 10.1155/2014/569087

PMCID: PMC4096002  PMID: 25089273

Carum copticum L.: A Herbal Medicine with Various Pharmacological Effects
Mohammad Hossein Boskabady, 1 ,* Saeed Alitaneh, 2 and Azam Alavinezhad 1

Carum copticum L. commonly known as “Ajwain” is cultivated in many regions of the world including Iran and India, states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Traditionally, C. copticum has been used in the past for various therapeutic effects including bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal tumors, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, and loss of appetite. It has other health benefits such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and hypolipidemic effects. This plant contains different important components such as carbohydrates, glucosides, saponins and phenolic compounds (carvacrol), volatile oils (thymol), terpiene, paracymene and beta-pinene, protein, fat, fiber, and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, iron, and nicotinic acid (niacin). In the previous studies, several pharmacological effects were shown for C. copticum. Therefore, in this paper, the pharmacological effects of the plant were reviewed.

5.7. Antifungal Effects
Antifungal activity of essential oil of C. copticum seeds is also documented against toxigenic Aspergillus species. The oil of this plant also is able to inhibit the growth of this parasite [88]. In another study, C. copticum (900 ppm concentration)showed fungitoxicity activity against Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes [89].

Anti-Candida activity of 10–55 μL concentrations of C. copticum was assessed by agar disc diffusion assay. The concentrations 50–55 μL of C. copticum were more effective in inhibition of the growth of Candida [90]. The effect of methanolic extract of C. copticum on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, and C. utilis was studied in vitro which has more effect on Candida albicans and C. utilis [91].