Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) an export-oriented Indian seed spice with inherent nutraceutical and therapeutic attributes: A review

Abstract

Cumin seeds and value-added products are used in beverages, liquors,candy, nutraceuticals, therapeutics, toiletries, perfumery and lotions. In theIndian systems of medicine, cumin finds a vital role through its essential &total oil components and various aqueous and alcoholic extracts. Cuminseeds contain volatile oil (3–4%), the primary active principles of which arecumin aldehyde, terpenes (45–50%), phenols, unsaturated and saturatedfatty acids, etc., those occur in varying fractions compensating each other,which act as a scavenger for free radicals and antioxidants. As anutraceutical, cumin seeds contain plenty of iron, magnesium, calcium,manganese, and phosphorus. The vitamins present include thiamine,riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A, C, E, K, and vitamin B6. The seedspossessdiuretic, carminative, stimulant, digestive, tonic, appetizer, stomachic andastringent properties. It is traditionally an essential critical remedial agentfor digestion, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, eczema, atonic, flatulence,dyspepsia and abdominal pains. Phytochemicals like alkaloid, coumarin,anthraquinone, flavonoid, protein, glycoside, resin, saponin, tannin andsteroids are abundant in its seed. Cumin seed extracts bear variousmedicinal properties such as insecticidal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, hypotensive, bronchodilator,immunological, contraceptive, aldose reductase, analgesic,alpha-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory effects, etc. Thus use of cumin offerscombined advantages, providing both nutraceutical and therapeuticproperties simultaneously.