ABSTRACT
This chapter presents various commonly used members of family Apiaceae that are popular and native to the Middle East region and Asia, for various purposes associated to their fragrant properties, medicinal constituents and nutrients. Screening of the antispasmodic potential of seven Apiaceae plants revealed that Cuminum cyminum induces dose-dependent relaxation in guinea pig ileum. The Ajwain fruits are edible and usually used as a spice in India, the Middle East and Asia, and some parts of America. Frozen ajwain leaves exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than the fresh ones due to higher lutein content in frozen leaves. Traditional uses for each plant will be presented followed by reported biological activities, then phytochemical content mostly associated with the pharmacological activity of each species will be discussed. Topical application of methanolic extract of Pimpinella anisum stimulated wound healing activity in diabetic rats. In the ancient Egyptian culture and medicine, coriander was considered to have cooling, stimulant, carminative and digestive properties.
