Plants have been highly valued for their healing properties in all cultures
around the world. The plant is widely used in food and traditional medicine from
ancient time. Carum carvi L. (C. carvi) is commonly known as spice and medicinal
plant in many cultures and several studies have reported that C. carvi possesses antidiabetic,
diuretic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, antiproliferative and antispasmodic
activities. Phytochemical analyses have revealed that the main
phytochemicals in C. carvi seeds were carvone, limonene, carvacrol, carvenone, γ-
terpinene, and p-cymene. In this chapter, information about C. carvi including its
pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacology is provided.
Keywords: Carum carvi L., carvone, limonene, biological effects.
