Anethum graveolens

Scientific name: Anethum graveolens L.

Synonym: Peucedanum graveolens (L.) C.B. Clarke

Synonym 2: Peucedanum anethum Baill. Benth. & Hook. f.

Botanical family: APIACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Martinique:

anis
ianni

Dominican Republic:

hinojo

Other vernacular names

Martinique:

ianni, anis

Geographical distribution

Native to the Mediterranean, widely cultivated in America.

Botanical description

Upright herbaceous plant up to 1.7 m high, glabrous and glaucous. Alternate, oblong to obovate leaves up to 35 cm, tripinnate with the last filiform segments; petiole pods 1-3 cm long. Inflorescences with terminal and lateral umbels; numerous flowers with yellow petals. Fruit ovate-elliptic, glabrous, up to 4 mm long, compressed dorsally, narrowly winged ribs, the 2 lateral ones are broader.

This species is often confused with Foeniculum vulgare, which has a longer petiole pod and all the ribs of the fruit are the same.

Voucher(s)

Arvigo, 1064, JBSD
Fuentes, 4644, ROIG
Longuefosse&Nossin, 108, HAVPM

stomach pain

seed and leaf, decoction, orally¹

For all uses it is described mainly in association with Eupatorium aromatisans, Lippia micromera or salt.

abdominal pain

seed, decoction, taken orally^1-2

flatulence

seed, decoction, taken orally^1-2

The aerial parts of Anethum graveolens bulbs are a condiment of relatively widespread human consumption.

For stomach pain, abdominal pain or flatulence: prepare a decoction with 2-3 tablespoons (15-30 grams) of seeds in 4 cups (1 litre) of water; boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup after each meal²⁰.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for abdominal pain, flatulence and stomach pain is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the stomach or abdominal pain persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵
The aqueous extract (decoction 30% weight/volume) from dry seeds (2 and 5 g plant mass/kg), was administered in single dose, orally in Swiss OF1 mice (5 males and 5 females), LD₅₀ model, the control group was treated with water. The same extract and route of administration (2 g plant mass/kg), single doses in Sprague Dawley rats (3 males and 3 females), acute toxicity class model, did not cause any death, nor were there any signs of adverse reactions in 14 days of observation, nor did histological damage occur in the organs.

The aqueous extract of aerial parts (50 mg dry weight of plant material/disc) in the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 model with metabolic activation, showed antimutagenic activity in vitro¹⁶.

The aqueous seed extract (6.46% w/w) intraperitoneally in male albino mice (25-30 g) showed an LD₅₀ of 3.04 g/kg; the maximum non-lethal dose tolerated was 0.45 g/kg⁸.

The aqueous extract of dry seed (175 mg/kg) orally in pregnant rats and did not induce any embryotoxic effects¹⁷.

The aqueous leaf extract (175 mg/kg) orally in pregnant rats induced a teratogenic and embryotoxic effect¹⁸.

The administration of aerial parts (33% of the daily diet) for 450 continuous days in ACI rats of both sexes did not induce carcinogenesis¹⁹.

The essential oil causes photodermatitis and is convulsant at high doses¹⁴.

No data are available to recommend medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children younger than 12 years of age.

The aerial part and the seed contain flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetin, ramnetin, luteolin³, rutin⁴; coumarins: aesculetin, bergapten⁵, coumarin glycosides, scopoletin⁶.

Proximate analysis of 100 g of the seed⁷: calories: 305; water: 7.7%; protein: 16%; fat: 14.5%; carbohydrates: 55.2%; fibre: 21.1%; ash: 6.6%; calcium: 1516 mg; phosphorus: 277 mg; iron: 16.3 mg; sodium: 20 mg; potassium: 1186 mg; carotene: 32 μg; thiamine: 0.42 mg; riboflavin: 0.28 mg; niacin: 2.81 mg.

The aqueous (6.46% w/w) and ethanolic (80 v/v, 8.5% w/w) seed extract orally and intraperitoneally in male albino mice (25 to 30 g) demonstrated a significant protective and antisecretory effect on the gastric mucosa⁸.

The ethanolic extract (95%) from the leaves and stems (4 mg/ml) showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae on agar plate⁹.

In the isolated rabbit duodenum model (50 μg/ml), antispasmodic activity was observed¹⁰.

The essential oil (2%) showed an antifoam effect in vitro, to which the carminative activity is attributed¹¹.

In the different parts of this plant, chemical compounds have been established to which antispasmodic activity is attributed¹².

The German Commission E has approved the fruit and the dry seed for dyspepsia^13-14.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

2 LONGUEFOSSE JL, NOSSIN E, 1990-95
Enquête TRAMIL. Association pour la valorisation des plantes médicinales de la Caraïbe AVPMC, Fort de France, Martinique.

3 DANIEL M, 1989
Polyphenols of some Indian vegetables. Curr Sci 58(23):1332-1334.

4 VARNAITE R, 1988
Rutin content in capsicum, capsella, urtica, primula, lepidium, lactuca, brassica, anethum, beta, petroselinum, Allium genera representatives. Liet Tsr Mokslu Akad Darb Ser C 4:29-32.

5 DRANIK LI, PROKOPENKO AP, 1969
Coumarins and acids from Anethum graveolens fruit. Khim Prir Soedin 55:437.

6 APLIN RT, PAGE CB, 1967
Constituents of native Umbelliferae. I. Coumarins from dill (Anethum graveolens). J Chem Soc C 23:2593-2596.

7 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. p17.

8 HOSSEINZADEH H, KARIMI GR, AMERI M, 2002
Effects of Anethum graveolens L. seed extracts on experimental gastric irritation models in mice. BMC Pharmacol 2:21.

9 IKRAM M, HAQ I, 1980
Screening of medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity. Fitoterapia 51:281-284.

10 SHIPOCHLIEV T, 1968
Pharmacological investigations into several essential oils, first communication. Effect on the smooth musculature. Vet Med Nauki 5(6):63-69.

11 HARRIES N, JAMES KC, PUGH WK, 1978
Antifoaming and carminative actions of volatile oils. J Clin Pharmacol 2:171-177.

12 DUKE JA, 1992
Handbook of biologicaly active phytochemicals and their activities. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.

13 PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES, 2000
Anethum graveolens. Physician Desk Reference (PDR) for Herbal Medicines, Montvale, USA: Medical Economics Company. p252.

14 CANIGUERAL S, VILA R, RISCO E, PEREZ F, PORTILLO A, FREIXA B, MILO B, VANACLOCHA B, RIOS JL, MORALES MA, ALONSO JR, BACHILLER LI, PERIS JB, STUBING G, 2002
Anethum graveolens. Vademecum de Fitoterapia, Editorial Masson, Barcelona, España, Jul.20,2002. URL: http://www.masson.es/book/fitoterapia.html

15 MARTINEZ MJ, BETANCOURT J, LOPEZ M, MOREJON Z, BARCELO H, LAINEZ A, MONTES ME, REGO R, BOUCOURT E,MORON F, 2000
Toxicidad aguda clásica y clases tóxicas agudas de semilla seca de Anethum graveolens. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio Central de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Salvador Allende”, La Habana, Cuba.

16 NATAQUE K, KANZAWA K, MIZUNO M, UENO N, KOBAYASHI T, DANNE GI, MINAMOTO S, 1989
Herb water-extracts markedly suppress the mutagenicity of TRP-P-2. Agr Biol Chem 53(5):1423-1425.

17 NATH D, SETHI N, SINGH RK, JAIN AK, 1992
Commonly used Indian abortifacient plants with special reference to their teratologic effects in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 36(2):147-154.

18 SETHI N, NATH D, SINGH RK, 1989
Teratological evaluation of some commonly used indigenous antifertility plants in rats. Int J Crude Drugs Res 27(2):118-120.

19 FUKUOKA M, YOSHIHIRA K, NATORI S, SAKAMOTO K, IWAHARA S, HOSAKA S, IRONO I, 1980
Characterization of mutagenic principle and carcinogenicity test of dill weed and seeds. J Pharmacobio Dyn 3(5):236-244.

20 ALBORNOZ A, 1993
Medicina tradicional herbaria. Guía de Fitoterapia. Caracas, Venezuela: Editorial Instituto Farmacoterápico Latino S.A. pp87,122.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Anethum graveolens

Vernacular names

Martinique:

Dominican Republic:

Martinique:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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