Studies on phytochemicals and biological properties of bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze).

Ani, V. (2008) Studies on phytochemicals and biological properties of bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze). PhD thesis, University of Mysore.

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Abstract

Human health is inextricably linked with diet and in the last few years research teams have been able to demonstrate the health beneficial effects of food components, spices and medicinal herbs that are a part of the traditional diet. There has been an explosion of research geared towards understanding precisely how diet can affect normal physiology and health of human beings. One of the most remarkable features of medicinal plant research of the last decade is the enormously increasing interest towards the biological activities of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds including flavonoids. Flavonoids and other phenolics have been suggested to play a preventive role of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. Spices have occupied an important place in the lives of people since ancient times. They have been considered indispensable in flavouring, seasoning of foods, flavouring of beverages, in perfumery, cosmetics and medicines. The medicinal activity of spices and spice extracts including hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic etc., are attributed to their bio-active molecules such as polyphenolic compounds, phenolic glycosides, essential oils, phytosterols etc., Cumin is one of the most popular spices all over the world especially Latin America, North Africa, Europe and all over Asia. There are three major varieties of cumin, Normal cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Black cumin (Nigella sativa) and Bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum). Bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze) belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is locally called ‘Kali-ziri’ or ‘Somraj’. It is distributed throughout Indian subcontinent and also cultivated in Sri Lanka. The seeds have a hot, sharp, bitter taste, acrid, astringent to the bowls. The seeds are reported to possess febrifugal, alterative, antihelmenthic, antiulcer, antiphlegmatic, cardiac, diuretic and digestive v properties. In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to treat skin diseases such as leucoderma. In Yunani system of medicine the seeds are used as purgative and for treatment of asthma, hiccough, inflammatory swellings and itching of the eyes. On the Malabar coast an infusion of the seeds is given for the coughs and against flatulency. There is little scientific data on phytochemicals and their beneficial properties of bitter cumin variety. The main aim of this research programme is to isolate and characterize the bioactive phytochemicals from bitter cumin and study their biological properties in suitable model systems. The main objectives of this study are 1) Isolation and characterization of bioactive phytochemicals from Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze seeds. 2) To study the biological effects of Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze phytochemicals on antioxidant, antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties in suitable model systems.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Spices; Bitter cumin; Asteraceae; Antihelmenthic; Anti-diabetic; Antioxidant
Subjects:	600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 30 Spices/Condiments 500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 07 Life Sciences > 03 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology > 18 Phytochemistry
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2010 06:49
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2010 06:49
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/9398

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