Ajwain Herb
Coleus amboinicus
Ajwain Herb (Coleus amboinicus) is a plant used in Ayurveda. The leaf (Coleus aromaticus / Plectranthus amboinicus, sometimes called Ajwain ka patta) contains thymol and carvacrol in lower concentrations than seed Ajwain but has additional flavonoids.
| Botanical name | Coleus amboinicus |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Also known as | Ajwain Herb, AjwainHerb |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5341313 · Wikidata Q39087854 · NCBI Taxonomy 204180 |
This entry and parnayavani describe the same drug, Coleus amboinicus, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use; the other is treated as the primary record for citation.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Ajwain_Herb |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh leaf juice), Churna (dried leaf powder), Capsule, Phanta (hot infusion), Lepa (paste for external application)
Standard Dosage: 10-20ml fresh leaf juice twice daily; 2-4g dried leaf powder twice daily; 500mg extract capsule
Bioavailability: Moderate bioavailability. The leaf (Coleus aromaticus / Plectranthus amboinicus, sometimes called Ajwain ka patta) contains thymol and carvacrol in lower concentrations than seed Ajwain but has additional flavonoids. Fresh juice preparations show better absorption profile than dried powder. Mucilage content may slow but prolong absorption.
Optimal Timing: Warm fresh juice with honey for cough/cold — 2-3 times daily between meals
Standardized Extract: Leaf extract standardized to minimum 1% thymol and 0.5% carvacrol. Total essential oil content minimum 0.8% v/w in dried herb.
Shelf Life: 1 day (fresh juice without preservative); 18 months (dried powder); 2 years (capsules); 3 years (essential oil)
Storage: Fresh leaves refrigerated (2-8°C). Dried herb in airtight containers away from light and moisture. Essential oil in amber glass at 15-25°C.
Marker Compounds: Thymol, Carvacrol, Rosmarinic acid, Eugenol, Beta-caryophyllene, Cirsimaritin
Extraction Methods
- Cold-pressed juice from fresh leaves
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (60:40)
- Steam distillation for essential oil
- Aqueous infusion (Phanta — hot water steep for 5-10 minutes)
Synergistic Combinations
- With Tulsi for respiratory infections and cough
- With Adrak (ginger) for cold and congestion
- With Madhu (honey) as expectorant combination
- With Haridra for anti-inflammatory action
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews4
- 2026. Nutritional Composition, Therapeutic Benefits, and Functional Food Potential of Coleus amboinicus: A Comprehensive ReviewFood science & nutrition. PMID 42266885 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.71419
- 2025. Plectranthus amboinicus: A Systematic Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Properties, and Therapeutic ApplicationsPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 40430526 · doi:10.3390/ph18050707
- 2024. Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Coleus amboinicus: A Comprehensive ReviewCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 38321896 · doi:10.2174/0113816128283267240130062600
- 2006. Coleus PMID 30000934
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2026. Comparative in vitro study of Coleus amboinicus and paclitaxel on oral cancer cellsJournal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP. PMID 42064131 · doi:10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_108_25
- 2024. Evaluation of Free Radical Scavenging and Antimicrobial Activity of Coleus amboinicus-Mediated Iron Oxide NanoparticlesCureus. PMID 38571817 · doi:10.7759/cureus.55472
- 2023. Coleus Amboinicus Lour. Leaf Extract as an Antioxidant in SepsisMedical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina). PMID 38313107 · doi:10.5455/medarh.2023.77.451-454
- 2022. Dietary Coleus amboinicus Lour. decreases ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation, and improves meat quality and fatty acid composition in longissimus thoracis muscle of lambsJournal of animal science and biotechnology. PMID 35027089 · doi:10.1186/s40104-021-00654-3
- 2022. Effects of Coleus amboinicus L. Essential Oil and Ethanolic Extracts on Planktonic Cells and Biofilm Formation of Microsporum canis Isolated from Feline DermatophytosisAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36551390 · doi:10.3390/antibiotics11121734
- 2021. Constitutive and facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Cuban oregano, Coleus amboinicus (Lamiaceae)Functional plant biology : FPB. PMID 32919492 · doi:10.1071/FP20127
- 2021. Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activities of Coleus amboinicus Lour. Cultivated in Indonesia and PolandMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 34068950 · doi:10.3390/molecules26102915
- 2018. Coleus amboinicus (Lour.) leaves as a modulator of ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation in vitroJournal of animal science. PMID 30085144 · doi:10.1093/jas/sky321
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