Ajwain
Trachyspermum ammi
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.
| Botanical name | Trachyspermum ammi |
|---|---|
| Family | Apiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Apiales |
| 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. |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3034241 · Wikidata Q413254 · NCBI Taxonomy 52570 |
| Sanskrit | यवानी (yavānī), यवाग्रजः (yavāgrajaḥ) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | अजवाइन (ajavāina), अजवायन (ajavāyana) |
| Tamil | ஓமம் |
Sources: Flowers of India, 'Ajwain' page (Trachyspermum ammi): "Hindi: अजवाइन, अजवायन Ajwain", Devanagari; MMPND gives "अजवाइन Ajawain (Katz)".; Flowers of India, 'Ajwain' page: "Sanskrit: अजमोद Ajamoda, अजमोदिका Ajamodika, dipyaka, यवानी yavani, yamanika", Devanagari printed, exact match; MMPND Trachyspermum page: Sanskrit "यवानी Yavani, Yawani (NCL)".; Flowers of India, 'Ajwain' page: "Tamil: ஓமம் Omam"; MMPND Trachyspermum page: Tamil "Asamtavomam, Asampadam, Amam, ஓமம் Omam (Katz)", both print the Tamil script form.; Flowers of India, 'Ajwain' page: Hindi "अजवायन", Devanagari; MMPND gives "अजवायन Ajavayan".; Wisdomlib's Sanskrit/Ayurveda entry for Yavāgraja, citing the 13th-c. Rāja Nighaṇṭu, lists Yavāgraja among the Sanskrit synonyms of Yavānī, identified with Trachyspermum ammi Linn. (Apiaceae).. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2016 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
- 6Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
This entry and yavani describe the same drug, Trachyspermum ammi, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.
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
- alpha-Pinene and beta-Pinene
- alpha-Thujene
- Myrcene
- 1,8-Cineole
How does it work?
- Thymol and carvacrol exert 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 effect via calcium channel blocking and vasodilatory action
- Bronchodilatory mechanism through relaxation of tracheal smooth muscle and anticholinergic effects
- 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 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 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. Current drug discovery technologies. PMID 32957888 · doi: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 (distillate/hydrosol), Taila (essential oil), Capsule, Tablet, Kashayam (decoction)
Standard Dosage: 1-3g seed powder twice daily; 10-20ml 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, Terpinen-4-ol
Synergistic Combinations
- With Hingu (asafoetida) for carminative action and bloating
- With Sunthi for nausea and digestive stimulation
- Traditionally combined with Saindhava lavana for colic
- With Ajmoda for enhanced digestive action
- With Jeeraka for post-meal digestive comfort
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.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2024. Medicinal Plants Cultivated in Egypt with Antiviral Potential: A Systematic ReviewAlternative therapies in health and medicine. PMID 39110055
Randomised controlled trials2
- 2019. The efficacy of a Persian herbal formulation on functional bloating: A double-blind randomized controlled trialJournal of integrative medicine. PMID 31201146 · doi:10.1016/j.joim.2019.05.007
- 2016. Trachyspermum ammi 10 % topical cream versus placebo on neuropathic pain, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. PMID 27166709 · doi:10.1007/s10072-016-2600-3
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2026. Biomedical and industrial applications of Trachyspermum ammi-derived nanoparticles: a comprehensive reviewDiscover nano. PMID 41547697 · doi:10.1186/s11671-026-04436-6
- 2021. Antiviral Potential of Selected Medicinal Herbs and Their Isolated Natural ProductsBioMed research international. PMID 34926691 · doi:10.1155/2021/7872406
- 2021. Efficacy of Six Plants of Apiaceae Family for Body Weight Management: A Review from the Perspective of Modern and Traditional Persian MedicineCurrent drug discovery technologies. PMID 33023434 · doi:10.2174/1570163817999201006192538
Laboratory and animal studies6
- 2024. Clinical and microbial evaluation of mouthwash containing Achyranthes aspera and Trachyspermum ammi: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trialJournal of oral biology and craniofacial research. PMID 39055999 · doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2024.06.006
- 2024. Antibacterial and cytotoxicity properties of a polyherbal mouthwash containing Achyranthes aspera and Trachyspermum ammi against selected periodontal pathogensJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 39427482 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101046
- 2023. Green synthesis of nano-liposomes containing Bunium persicum and Trachyspermum ammi essential oils against TrichomonasvaginalisJournal of microbiology, immunology, and infection = Wei mian yu gan ran za zhi. PMID 35864068 · doi:10.1016/j.jmii.2022.06.006
- 2022. Isolation of Thymol from Trachyspermum ammi Fruits for Treatment of Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy in STZ-Induced RatsBioMed research international. PMID 35528161 · doi:10.1155/2022/8263999
- 2022. Insecticidal activity, Chemical Constituents of Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans and Murraya koenigii ethanloic extracts against Bemisia tabaciBrazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia. PMID 35920500 · doi:10.1590/1519-6984.260298
- 2021. Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Studies and Pharmacodynamic Studies of Standardized Extract of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Fruits) Against Chemically Induced Inflammation in RatsCurrent drug discovery technologies. PMID 32957888 · doi:10.2174/1570163817999200918103041
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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