Benefits, Uses and History

Video by Dr. Hema D. Sane

जीरा  – Cuminum cyminum

A close relative of coriander belonging to the same family – Fennel i.e. Foeniculum vulgare and अज्वायन i.e. ओवा Carum capticum also are relatives of जीरा.

जीरा is regularly cultivated as an annual crop for its fruits. These are elongated and with fine vertical ridges running across the length. Like mustard seeds जीरा fruits are used in तडका to add flavours.

The fruits are ingredients of curry powder, used in making pickles also in some bakery products – specially in some biscuits. The aroma of जीरा is due to Thymoquinone.

As a drug जीरा is common household medicine. It is a source of Thymol.

The fruit is carminative diuretic. It is also used in dyspepsia as the stimulant to digestive glands. The fruit decoction is recommended in diarrhoea.