Botanical Name

Ammi majus L.

Family

Apiaceae.

Synonyms

 Aethusa ammi Spreng., Ammi boeberi Hell. ex Hoffm., Ammi broussonetii DC., Ammi  cicutifolium Willd. ex Schult., Ammi elatum Salisb., Ammi glaucifolium L., Ammi  pauciradiatum Hochst. ex A.Rich., Ammi pumilum (Brot.) DC.. Anethum pinnatum Ruiz & Pav. ex Urban, Apium petraeum  Crantz, Cuminum regium Royle, Sison pumilum Brot.  

Regional Name

English : Bishop's Weed, Greater ammi, Lady's lace, Lace flower, Hindi : Aatrilal, Urdu : Aatrilal, Sanskrit : Sivtraghni.

Part Used

Seed.

Description

This speices is globally distributed in North & South America, North Africa, Europe, and Asia. Within India, it is cultivated in Jammu, Delhi, Dehra Dun, Garhwal region and Tamil Nadu.  It is an annual herb 0.9 to 1.5 m. high. Stem are sub-glaucous, striate, Leaves are lacy, lanceolate to round bipinnately 6-20 cm, oblong, segments 1-1.5 cm and Leaf stalk is 1-5 cm. Flowers are borne in typically carrot-like inflorescence. Stalk carrying the clusters is 8-14 cm. Rays are 20-60, 2-7 cm, very slender, rough. Flower stalks are many, 1-10 mm, spreading-ascending to incurved in fruit.

Phytoconstituents

It contains furanocoumarins, Xanthotoxin, imperatorin, isopimpilin, bergapten and marmesin.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa :Katu, Tikta, Guna :Laghu, Tiksna, Ruksa, Virya :Ushna, Karma :Sulahara, Anulomana, Dipana, Krmighna, Pacana, Rucya, Vipaka :Katu.

Ayurvedic Applications

Garbhashaya Vishodhana, Pradara, Sotha, Kasa, Prameha, Pilahayakritroga.

Medicinal Uses

It is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma and angina pectoris. It is also used to treat vitiligo, psoriasis, inflammation, mycosis fungoides, atopic eczema, pityriasis lichenoides, urticaria pigmentosa,  alopecia areata. It regulates menstruation and treatment of leprosy, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections.