Cumin

Related Terms

Abraj kmno vitu (Czech), aflatoxin B1, alkyl glucosides, alpha-pinene, anise acre, Apiaceae (family), Apiaceae spices, aromatic aldehydes, aromatic oxides, beta-pinene, borsos k?meny (Hungarian), caffeic acid, camon (kamon, kamoon, kammon, kammun) (Hebrew), camon tarbuti (Hebrew), cheeregum, chlorogenic acid, cineol, cirakam (shiragam) (Tamil), cominho (Portuguese), comino (Italian, Spanish), comino bianco (Italian), comino blanco (Spanish), comino romano (Italian), cumin (French), cumin acre, cumin aldehyde, cumin blanc (French), cumin de Malte (French), cumin du Maroc (French), cumin seeds, cuminal, cuminaldehyde, cumino (Italian), cuminoside A, cuminoside B, Cuminum cyminum, Cuminum odorum, cummin, dz?ra (Slovak), egyiptomi k?meny (Hungarian), faux anis (French), ferulic acid, flavonoids, gamma-terpinene, genistein, glucopyranosides, harilik v?rtsik??men (Estonian), hime unikyoo (Japanese), jamda (Swahili), jeelakarra (jilakarra) (Telugu), jeera (Hindi), jeerige (jirige) (Kannada), jeraka, jerakam (jirakam) (Malayalam), jiiraa (Hindi, Nepalese), jintan (Malay), jintan puteh (jintan putih) (Malay), jinten (Malay), jinten putih (Malay - Indonesia), jira (Swahili), jiraa (jeera) (Bengali), jiraka (Telugu), jirakam (jeerakam) (Tamil), jire (Marathi), jiru (Gujarati), juustokumina (Finnish), juustuk??men (Estonian), kaalaa jiiraa (Hindi), kammun (kamun, cammun, kamoun, kammoon) (Arabic), kimino (kiminon) (Greek), kimion (Bulgarian), kimion italianski (Bulgarian), kimion rimski (Bulgarian), kimon (Armenian), kimyon (Turkish), kisibiti (Swahili), kloeftsvoeb (Danish), kmin (Ukranian), komijn (Dutch), Kreuzk?mmel (German), kumin (Croatian, Japanese), kumina (Finnish), kuminmag (Hungarian), kummin (Icelandic), limonene, lysine, ma chin (Khmer), ma qin (ma ch'in) (Chinese), maustekumina (Finnish), monoterpenes, myrcene, myrtenal, ostak?men (Icelandic), ou shi luo (Chinese), p-cymene, pepparkummin (Swedish), p-mentha-1,4-dien-7-al, propanal, pyrazines, rasca r?mska (Slovakian), r?msk? km?n (Czech), r?mai k?meny (Hungarian), Roman caraway, romersk kummin (Swedish), Romischer K?mmel (German), roomankumina (Finnish), rumunsko kmun (Czech), sabrej km?novit? (Czech), safed jiiraa (safaid jeera, safed ziiraa, safed zira) (Hindi), safranal, safrole, sannut (Arabic), selenium, sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpenoid glucosides, spidskommen (Danish), spiskummin (Swedish), spisskarve (Norwegian), spisskummen (Norwegian), sweet cumin, tannins, terpenals, terpene esters, terpenes, terpenols, terpenones, thian khao (Thia), thien khaw (Laotian), threonine, vit kummin (Swedish), v?rtsk??men (Estonian), weisser Kreuzk?mmel (German), witte komijn (Dutch), xian hao (Chinese), xiang han qin (Chinese), yee raa (Thai), zamorska kumina (Slovenian), zi ran (Chinese), ziiraa (zeera, zira) (Hindi), ziraa (jirah, zeera) (Urdu), zireh (zire, zira) (Persian), zireye sabz (zireh sabz) (Persian), ziya (Burmese).
Note: This monograph does not include information on various forms of black cumin (Nigella sativa, Bunium persicum).

Background

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is native to the area from the eastern Mediterranean to eastern India. Traditional cultures have used it both for cooking and healing. Egyptians also used it for mummification. Cumin has been found in ancient sites, including Egyptian archeological sites from the 16th Century BC.
Persians are thought to be the first people to have cultivated cumin. It continues to be used as a medicinal herb and in cooking throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and parts of southern Europe.
Cumin has been widely credited with a broad range of effects, including increasing urine flow, settling upset stomach, eliminating gas, and improving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, current clinical data supporting the use of cumin are lacking for any human indication.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
There is no proven safe or effective dose for cumin in adults.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Cumin may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. Patients taking insulin or drugs for diabetes by mouth should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.
Cumin may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin?) or heparin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix?), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin?, Advil?) or naproxen (Naprosyn?, Aleve?).
Cumin may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. Patients using any medications should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
Cumin may also interact with agents that affect the immune system, antibiotics, anticancer drugs, antifungals, anti-inflammatory agents, antiseizure agents, cholesterol-lowering and lipid-lowering agents, drugs used for osteoporosis, estrogens, gastrointestinal agents, morphine, opioids, and phytoestrogens.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Allahghadri T, Rasooli I, Owlia P, et al. Antimicrobial property, antioxidant capacity, and cytotoxicity of essential oil from cumin produced in Iran. J Food Sci 2010;75(2):H54-61.
Bettaieb I, Bourgou S, Wannes WA, et al. Essential oils, phenolics, and antioxidant activities of different parts of cumin ( L.). J Agric Food Chem 2010;58(19):10410-8.
Bukhari SB, Iqbal S, Bhanger MI. Antioxidant potential of commercially available cumin (Cuminum cyminuml inn) in Pakistan. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2009;60(3):240-7.
Chauhan PS, Satti NK, Suri KA, et al. Stimulatory effects of and flavonoid glycoside on Cyclosporine-A and restraint stress induced immune-suppression in Swiss albino mice. Chem Biol Interact 2010;185(1):66-72.
Derakhshan S, Sattari M, Bigdeli M. Effect of cumin () seed essential oil on biofilm formation and plasmid Integrity of . Pharmacogn Mag 2010;6(21):57-61.
El-Ghorab AH, Nauman M, Anjum FM, et al. A comparative study on chemical composition and antioxidant activity of ginger () and cumin (). J Agric Food Chem 2010;58(14):8231-7.
Haghparast A, Shams J, Khatibi A, et al. Effects of the fruit essential oil of Linn. (Apiaceae) on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice. Neurosci Lett 2008;440(2):134-9.
Hajlaoui H, Mighri H, Noumi E, et al. Chemical composition and biological activities of Tunisian L. essential oil: a high effectiveness against spp. strains. Food Chem Toxicol 2010;48(8-9):2186-92.
Jensen-Jarolim E, Leitner A, Hirschwehr R, et al. Characterization of allergens in Apiaceae spices: anise, fennel, coriander and cumin. Clin Exp Allergy 1997;27(11):1299-306.
Katti K, Chanda N, Shukla R, et al. Green Nanotechnology from Cumin Phytochemicals: Generation of Biocompatible Gold Nanoparticles. Int J Green Nanotechnol Biomed 2009;1(1):B39-B52.
Khatibi A, Haghparast A, Shams J, et al. Effects of the fruit essential oil of L. on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice. Neurosci Lett 2008;448(1):94-8.
Martinez-Velazquez M, Castillo-Herrera GA, Rosario-Cruz R, et al. Acaricidal effect and chemical composition of essential oils extracted from , and against the cattle tick (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 2010.
Myer CM 3rd. The evolution of ototopical therapy: from cumin to quinolones. Ear Nose Throat J 2004;83(1 Suppl):9-11.
Pai MB, Prashant GM, Murlikrishna KS, et al. Antifungal efficacy of , , and on : an study. Indian J Dent Res 2010;21(3):334-6.
Wanner J, Bail S, Jirovetz L, et al. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of cumin oil (, Apiaceae). Nat Prod Commun 2010;5(9):1355-8.