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Umbelliferae
(Carrot/Parsley Family)
Introduction and Plants
Introduction
The Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae), commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a
group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems.
 The Umbelliferae family is named after the shape of its flowers, which are
called umbels. The umbels are unique in their floral uniformity.
 These distinctive umbrella shaped blooms are attractive in arrangements and
loved by numerous beneficial insects. They pollinate freely which allow it to
increase its natural distribution. Seed dispersal occurs through wind.
 Angiospermic plants and these are used as important herbs. Many are
poisonous
 Members of this family are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
 Many are indispensable in favorite recipes.
 The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera.
 It is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants.
Habit
 Plants are annual, biennial and perennials herbs.
Habitat
 It is widely distributed in through out the world.
Stem
 Furrowed fistular stem having swollen nodes
Leaves
 Alternate and compound
Inflorescence
 Simple or compound umbel
Flower
 Pentamerous, Epigynous, Hermaphrodite, Zygomorphic, pedicellate
Corolla
 5 petals, free, adnate to the ovary and sometimes unequal
Calyx
5 sepals free, adnate to ovary often considerably reduced in size
Androecium
 5 stamens, alternate with petals, polyandrous
Gynoecium
 Bicarpillary, syncarpous, with axile placentation, ovary inferior
Fruit
 Cremocarp consisting of two indehiscent carpels laterally or dorsally
compressed, breaking up into two parts called mericarp. Each mericarp
contain one seed.
Floral formula: ⊕ ⚥ K5 C(5) A5 G(2)
Fennel
Botanical origin: Foeniculum vulgare
Common Name: Saunf
Part used: Dried ripened fruit
Habit: A perennial sub shrub
Habitat: Indigenous to tropical, Mediterranean countries and Asia Cultivated in
France, India and Russia
Constituents: Mainly contain volatile oil. The major volatile oil is Anethole (40-50%),
Fenchone, methyl chavicol, Limonene, α-pinene, Anisaldehyde, Camphene,
Cinemal, Fixed oil and Proteins. Fennel oil has ẞ-pinene, anisic acid, phellandrine
and anisic aldehyde.
Medicinal uses
 Antiseptic
 Antispasmodic
 Anti-inflammatory
 carminative
 Expectorant
 Fennel can increase production of bile, used in the treatment of infant colic,
increases lactation and promote menstruation.
 Commercially, the oils is used in soap, washes and perfumes.
Caraway
Botanical origin: Carus carvi
Common Name: Carum, Caraway fruits
Part used: Dried ripened fruit
Habit: A biennial sub shrub
Habitat: Native to Europe and Western Asia Cultivated in Germany, India and
North Africa, Canada
Constituents: Mainly contain volatile oil. The major volatile oil is Carvone (65%).
Other constituents are Fenchone, Sabine, Limonene, α-pinene, Carveol,
Carvacrol, Dihydrocarveol and Myrcene.
Medicinal uses
 Aromatic
 Stimulant
 Carminative
 Flavoring agent
 Caraway oil has strong fungicidal action.
 Oil is also expectorant
 Drug is recommended in dyspepsia as a tonic, as stomachic, for flatulent
indigestion
Coriander
Botanical origin: Coriander sativum
Common Name: Fructus coriandri, coriander fruits
Part used: Dried ripened fruit
Habit: Annual herb
Habitat: Cultivated in central and Eastern, Europe particularly in Russia, Africa,
and India.
Constituents: Mainly contain volatile oil. The major volatile oil is Linalool
(coriandrol). Other constituents are Borneol, p-cymene, Limonene, α-pinene,
Camphor, Geraniol, Malic acid, Tannic acid and linalool
Medicinal uses
 Aromatic
 Stimulant
 Carminative
 Flavoring agent
 Diaphoretic
 Oil is also expectorant
 Appetizer
 It is externally applied for the treatment of rheumatism, infusion for
children's diarrhea, digestive upsets, anorexia and flatulence
Conium
Botanical origion: Conium maculatum
Common Name: Poison hemlock
Part used: Dried fully grown un-ripened fruit
Habit: A biennial herb
Habitat: Indigenous to Europe and cultivated in North and south America and in
various parts of Asia
Constituents: Mainly contain Alkaloid (Coniine). Other constituents are N-methyl
coniine, γ-coniceine, Cohydrine and Pseudocohydrine
Medicinal uses
 Homeopathy (treat glandular enlargements, for instance, cancerous tumors,
particularly in the breast).
 To cure nervous disorders accompanied by slowly progressing paralysis in the
muscles that starts in the feet and moves upwards.
 Sedative
 Antispasmodic
 Sufficient doses acts as a paralyzer to the centers of motion. In its action it is,
therefore, directly antagonistic to that of Strychnine, and hence it has been
recommended as an antidote to Strychnine poisoning, and in other poisons of
the same class, and in tetanus, hydrophobia
Asafoetida
Botanical origin: Ferula foetida, Ferula asafoetida
Common Name: Gum asafetida, Devil's dung, Hing
Part used: Oleogum resin obtained by incising the living rhizomes and roots
Habit: Perennial branching herb
Habitat: Indegenous to Iran and Afghanistan.
Constituents: Mainly contain volatile oil 4-20% Pinene, Organic disulphides
including isobutyl propanyl disulphide responsible for alliaceous odor. Other
constituents include Resin 40-65% asaresinol ferulate, as ester of ferulic acid and
asaresinol, free ferulic acid and a resene asaresene and Gum 25%
Medicinal uses
 Expectorant
 Carminative
 Antispasmodic
 Laxative