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Cumin

Cuminum cyminum

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is a plant drug, also called Jirakam, Ajaji and Svetajiraka. Thymoquinone (trace) is well absorbed. Cumin enhances the activity of digestive enzymes (lipase, protease, amylase) improving overall nutrient bioavailability. Roasting enhances aroma but reduces cuminaldehyde content by 15-20%.

Key facts
Botanical nameCuminum cyminum
FamilyApiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderApiales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3034775 · Wikidata Q132624 · NCBI Taxonomy 52462
Names in other languages
Sanskritजीरकम् (jīrakam), अजाजी (ajājī), श्वेतजीरक (śvetajīraka)
Hindiजीरा (jīrā)

Sources: DDSA, A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary (Univ. of Chicago DSAL), via wisdomlib: 'Jīrā (जीरा): (nm) cumin seed'. Species tie corroborated by the Wisdom Library Ayurveda entry 'Jīraka (जीरक) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Cuminum cyminum Linn.', of which जीरा is the Hindi reflex.; Wisdom Library entries for Jīraka/Jīra (Cuminum cyminum), citing Ajājikī among the Raj Nighantu synonyms; Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages (Cuminum cyminum): 'Another, more frequent Sanskrit name of cumin is ajaji [अजाजी]'.; Wisdom Library entry for Śvetajīraka: 'Cuminum cyminum L. (Jīraka) is also known as Śvetajīraka according to both the Ayurvedic Formulary of India and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.'; Wisdom Library nighantu index: 'Jīraka (जीरक) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Cuminum cyminum Linn.' The same entry records that Cuminum cyminum L. (Jīraka) is also called Śvetajīraka 'according to both the Ayurvedic Formulary of India and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India'.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2006 to 2024, 10 with a DOI.

  • 4Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 8Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

This entry and jeeraka describe the same drug, Cuminum cyminum, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishCumin

What is it made of?

The marker compounds are listed under Dosage forms and preparation, below.

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (seed powder), Kashayam (decoction), Essential oil, Capsule, Tablet, Jeeraka Arishta, Roasted seed preparation

Standard Dosage: 3-6g seed powder; 500mg extract capsule; essential oil: 1-3 drops; as culinary spice: freely; Jeerakadyarishta: 15-30ml after meals

Optimal Timing: With meals or after meals for digestive support; Jeerakadyarishta after meals; roasted cumin with buttermilk after meals for digestive comfort

Storage: Whole seeds in airtight containers (very stable). Ground cumin in airtight packaging, loses aroma rapidly. Essential oil in amber glass, cool storage. Keep away from light and moisture.

Marker Compounds: Cuminaldehyde, Gamma-terpinene, Beta-pinene, Para-cymene, Cuminol, Safranal, Thymoquinone (trace), Apigenin, Luteolin

Synergistic Combinations

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

  1. Khan AU, Akram M, Daniyal M and others. 2020. Awareness and current knowledge of epilepsyMetabolic brain disease. PMID 31605258 · doi:10.1007/s11011-019-00494-1
  2. Mnif S, Aifa S. 2015. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) from traditional uses to potential biomedical applicationsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 26010662 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.201400305
  3. Sowbhagya HB. 2013. Chemistry, technology, and nutraceutical functions of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L): an overviewCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 23035918 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2010.500223
  4. 2006. Cumin PMID 30000933

Laboratory and animal studies8

  1. Osanloo M, Ranjbar R, Zarenezhad E. 2024. Alginate Nanoparticles Containing Cuminum cyminum and Zataria multiflora Essential Oils with Promising Anticancer and Antibacterial EffectsInternational journal of biomaterials. PMID 38725434 · doi:10.1155/2024/5556838
  2. Yang X, Chen Y, Liu W and others. 2024. Combined transcriptomics and metabolomics to analyse the response of Cuminum cyminum L. under Pb stressThe Science of the total environment. PMID 38453091 · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171497
  3. Chen G, Kang R, Wang Z and others. 2023. The complete mitochondrial genome of Cuminum cyminum (Apiales: Apiaceae) and phylogenetic analysisMitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 37521907 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2023.2238357
  4. Ranjbar R, Zarenezhad E, Abdollahi A and others. 2023. Nanoemulsion and Nanogel Containing Cuminum cyminum L Essential Oil: Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antibacterial, and Antilarval PropertiesJournal of tropical medicine. PMID 36793773 · doi:10.1155/2023/5075581
  5. Amrutha DS, Joseph J, Vineeth CA and others. 2021. Green synthesis of Cuminum cyminum silver nanoparticles: Characterizations and cytocompatibility with lapine primary tenocytesJournal of biosciences. PMID 33737496
  6. Sharifi A, Mohammadzadeh A, Salehi TZ and others. 2021. Cuminum cyminum L. Essential Oil: A Promising Antibacterial and Antivirulence Agent Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusFrontiers in microbiology. PMID 34421837 · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.667833
  7. Zhou J, Liu Z. 2020. The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Cuminum cyminumMitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources. PMID 33366883 · doi:10.1080/23802359.2020.1722037
  8. Johri RK. 2011. Cuminum cyminum and Carum carvi: An updatePharmacognosy reviews. PMID 22096320 · doi:10.4103/0973-7847.79101

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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