Carum is biennial to perennial plant, 30-100 cm high and the fruit contain at least 2.5% essential oil.
Carum characteristics
Carum is biennial to perennial plant, 30-100 cm high, lower leaves have petiole and they bear wide sheaths. Higher leaves are smaller and petioles are sheath like. Fruits are ovate shape, brown in color, not pubescent and with distinct taste.
Carum Composition
Carum fruits contain at least 2.5% essential oil and major compounds are ractoni namely Carvone, Terpen named Limonen and a low amount of Dihydrocarvone, Carveol and Dihydrocarveol.
The fruits contain 8-29% fixed oil, resin, color compounds and calcium oxalate. It also contains 7-20% wax, mucilage, different carbohydrate compounds and 19-20% nitrogen compounds.
