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Caraway Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Carum carvi Linn. |
| English Name |
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Caraway |
| Hindi Name |
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Shahjira,Kaalaa jiiraa |
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| CATEGORY |
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Carminative |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Fruits |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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| FAMILY |
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Umbellifereae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to India and is found in following countries:-
Asia
Britain
China
England
Europe
Finland
Germany
Holland
India
Morocco
Norway
Russia
Sweden
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Characteristic and aromatic |
| Taste |
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Characteristic and aromatic |
| Size |
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7 ? 2 mm |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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N/A |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
? Volatile oil (3-5%)
? Fixed oil (8-12%) - ketone carvone and terpene limonene
Dihydrocarvone
Carveol
Dihydrocarveol
Ketone
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Proteins
Calcium oxalate
Resin
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| CULTIVATION |
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Caraway was well known and it is believed that its use originated with the ancient 'Arabs', who called the seeds 'Karawya' deriving it's name. It contains not less than 3.5% v/w of the volatile oil.
The full grown caraway plants are about 60 cm. high and have bipinnate leaves with linear segments. A nitrogeneous substance such as sodium nitrate is a good addition to the soil and shallow cultivation is necessary to keep the ground clear or weeds. When the oldest fruits are just ripe the crop is harvested with a reaping machine, choosing the early morning for the operation to reduce the loss of fruit.
The sheaves are stacked in shocks on the field and allowed to dry which may take two or three weeks. The fruits are finally separated in a threshing machine and are stored in bags made of a coarse fabric of jute or hemp.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions:-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
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