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.