Ajmodā (Ajamoda) – Detailed Product Monograph

1. Synonyms (पर्यायवाची नाम)

• Sanskrit Synonyms:
• अजमोदा (Ajamodā) – “Having smell like goat”
• खराश्वा (Kharāśvā) – “Liked by donkeys”
• मायूर (Māyūraḥ) – Umbels resembling peacock crest
• दीप्यक (Dīpyakaḥ) – “Stimulates digestive fire”
• ब्रह्मकुशा (Brahmakuśā) – Sacred like Brahma grass
• कारवी (Kāravī) – Resembling Mayūra in form
• लोचमस्तका (Locamastakā) – Flowers resembling shaven monk’s head

2. Regional Names

• Hindi: Ajamoda, Ajmod, Ajmūda
• Bengali: Vanayamanī, Rāndhanī, Canu, Ajamūda
• Gujarati: Bodo ajamoda, Ajmūd, Bodī ajamo
• Telugu: Ajamoda, Bomā, Aśamadāgā, Ajodāvomaru
• Punjabi: Bhutajata
• Tamil: Asama, Tagam, Asamatā-omān
• Marathi: Ajamoda ova
• Kannada: Ajamodā vomā
• English: Ajowan / Ajmud / Celery (depending on species)

3. Botanical Description

• Accepted Species:
• Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC.) Craib
• Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
• Synonyms: T. involucratum Wolff; Carum roxburghianum Benth. & Hook. f.
• Morphology:
• Highly branched annual herb.
• Leaves: Pinnate/decompound, segments linear-lanceolate.
• Flowers: Compound umbels, white petals, retuse/obcordate.
• Fruits: Subpentagonal, ridged, dorsally compressed.
• Flowering & Fruiting: January–April.
• Apium graveolens Linn. (Celery)
• Introduced from Europe, cultivated in India during cold season.

4. Chemical Constituents

• Seeds/Fruits contain:
• Volatile oils: Carvacrol, Thymol, α- & β-pinenes, α- & β-phellandrenes, Sabinene, Limonene, Myrcene, Linalool, Terpinene, Piperitone, α-terpineol, Cadinene.
• Coumarins & Related Compounds: Bergapten, Psoralen, Isopimpinellin, Seselin, Umbelliferone, Angelicin, 7-hydroxy-6-methylcoumarin, 7-methoxy-6-methylcoumarin.
• Other Phytoconstituents: β-sitosterol, Cuminic acid, Cumin aldehyde, Thymohydroquinone.
• Pharmacological actions (studied):
• Antispasmodic (on rabbit’s gut muscles)
• Hypotensive (lowers blood pressure in dogs/rats)
• Diuretic (in rabbits)
• Carminative, cardiotonic
• Anti-amoebic (active against Entamoeba histolytica)
• CNS stimulant (induces hyperactivity in mice)

5. Properties and Therapeutic Uses

Ayurvedic Properties (गुणधर्म)

• Rasa (Taste): Kaṭu (Pungent)
• Guna (Qualities): Tīkṣṇa (Sharp), Laghu (Light)
• Virya (Potency): Uṣṇa (Hot)
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Kaṭu
• Doshic Action: Pacifies Vāta and Kapha

Therapeutic Uses

• Digestive & Gastrointestinal:
• Improves appetite, digestion (Deepana, Pachana).
• Relieves indigestion, abdominal colic, flatulence, tympanites.
• Used in dyspepsia, intestinal worms, vomiting, hiccup.
• Respiratory:
• Beneficial in bronchitis, dyspnoea, asthma (due to antispasmodic effect).
• Cardiac & Circulatory:
• Cardiotonic action (seeds after oil extraction).
• Lowers blood pressure (experimental).
• Genitourinary:
• Useful in amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea.
• Relieves urinary pain and calculus (root diuretic).
• Other Uses:
• External oil application in rheumatoid arthritis (antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory).
• Household remedy in rheumatism, urinary disorders.
• Mentioned in Caraka Saṃhitā (Deepanīya, Śūlapraśamana Mahākāṣāya) and Suśruta Saṃhitā (Pippalyādi Gana).
• ⚠️ Contraindications: Not beneficial in epilepsy, not recommended during pregnancy.

6. Doses

• Churna (Powder of Fruit): 2–4 g

Ref: Bhavaprakash Nighantu