# Ajwain

Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/ajwain/

> Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) is a plant drug, also called Yavani, Yavagrajah and Ajavaina, from the Apiaceae family. Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) by the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH.

## Key facts

- **Botanical name:** Trachyspermum ammi
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Pharmacopoeia status:** Listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) by the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH. Thymol (major constituent) recognized by the US EPA as having minimal potential toxicity. Not yet listed in WHO monographs as a standalone entry.

## Names in the Indian languages

Every name form this project holds for this drug, with the script form first and the
transliteration after it. Sources per name are on the canonical page.

| Language | Names |
| --- | --- |
| Sanskrit | यवानी (yavānī), यवाग्रजः (yavāgrajaḥ) |
| Hindi | अजवाइन (ajavāina), अजवायन (ajavāyana) |
| Tamil | ஓமம் |

## Names and identification

| Language | Name |
|----------|------|
| English | Ajwain |
| Latin/Botanical | *Trachyspermum ammi* |

## Key Phytochemical Constituents

- Thymol (50-60% of essential oil)
- gamma-Terpinene
- p-Cymene
- [Carvacrol](/glossary/compounds-a-c/#carvacrol)
- alpha-Pinene and beta-Pinene
- alpha-Thujene
- [Myrcene](/glossary/compounds-l-o/#myrcene)
- 1,8-[Cineole](/glossary/compounds-c-d/#cineole)

## How does it work?

- Thymol and carvacrol exert [antimicrobial](/reference/antimicrobial/) action by disrupting bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting efflux pumps
- Anti-inflammatory activity mediated through inhibition of COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6)
- [Antihypertensive](/glossary/pharmacology/#antihypertensive) effect via calcium channel blocking and vasodilatory action
- Bronchodilatory mechanism through relaxation of tracheal smooth muscle and anticholinergic effects
- [Antidiabetic](/reference/antidiabetic/) action through alpha-glucosidase inhibition and enhanced insulin sensitivity

## Which traditional uses are supported by research?

*These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.*

- Traditionally used as a carminative and for flatulence. Pharmacological studies have reported [antispasmodic](/glossary/pharmacology/#antispasmodic) effects on gastrointestinal smooth muscle.
- Traditionally used for dyspepsia and digestive disorders. Studies have reported increased digestive enzyme secretion.
- Traditionally used for respiratory conditions as a bronchodilator and for cough. Studies have reported relaxation of tracheal smooth muscle.
- Traditionally used for intestinal parasites and infections. In vitro studies have reported antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens.
- Traditionally used as an [analgesic](/reference/analgesic/) for abdominal and dental pain. Animal studies have reported antinociceptive effects.

## What do recent studies show?

- Saraswat N, Sachan N, Chandra P 2021. [Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Studies and Pharmacodynamic Studies of Standardized Extract of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Fruits) Against Chemically Induced Inflammation in Rats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32957888/). *Current drug discovery technologies*. PMID [32957888](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32957888/) · [doi:10.2174/1570163817999200918103041](https://doi.org/10.2174/1570163817999200918103041)  
  Standardized ajwain extract showed no toxicity in acute and sub-acute studies, while demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory action against chemically induced inflammation in rat models.

*Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.*

## Recent safety updates

- Pregnant women should avoid ajwain due to potential adverse effects on fetal development; use discouraged during breastfeeding
- High oral doses can cause fatal poisoning; people on NSAIDs or antiplatelet medications should use cautiously due to ajwain's inherent anti-clotting activity
- Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies found no significant toxicity at standard therapeutic doses; thymol classified as safe by US-FDA and European Commission as a flavoring agent

## What is it made of?

### Key Active Markers

- Carvacrol
- Myrcene
- Cineole
- Thymol 

## Dosage forms and preparation

**Dosage Forms:** Churna (powder), [Arka](/herb/arka/) (distillate/hydrosol), Taila (essential oil), Capsule, Tablet, Kashayam (decoction)

**Standard Dosage:** 1-3g seed powder twice daily; 10-20ml [Arka](/herb/arka/) twice daily; 500mg extract capsule; 1-2 drops essential oil in warm water (internal, short-term)

**Optimal Timing:** After meals with warm water for digestive support; before meals with black salt for appetite stimulation

**Storage:** Whole seeds in airtight containers at ambient temperature. Essential oil in amber glass, tightly sealed, at 15-25°C. Powder in nitrogen-flushed sealed packs. Keep away from direct sunlight.

**Marker Compounds:** Thymol, p-Cymene, Gamma-terpinene, Carvacrol, Beta-pinene, [Limonene](/glossary/compounds-g-l/#limonene), Terpinen-4-ol

### Synergistic Combinations

- With [Hingu](/herb/hingu/) (asafoetida) for carminative action and bloating
- With Sunthi for nausea and digestive stimulation
- Traditionally combined with [Saindhava lavana](/herb/saindhava-lavana/) for colic
- With [Ajmoda](/herb/ajmoda/) for enhanced digestive action
- With [Jeeraka](/herb/jeeraka/) for post-meal digestive comfort

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Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/ajwain/

## Sources

- Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database (700+ herbs, CC-BY-4.0)
- Web research (clinical trials, WHO monographs, safety databases)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Published by Age Ayurveda in the Nighantu. Educational reference only, not medical advice.
Incorporates material from the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database under CC BY 4.0.