Phytopharmacology of unani drug Zeerah Siyah (Carum Carvi Linn)-A review

The objective is to report Zeerah siyah in Unani Classical literature, phytochemistry, pharmacology and Unani formulations and to make an effort to prove the strengths of Zeerah siyah mentioned in Unani classical literature. This review gives research questions to young researchers of Unani and other traditional system of medicine. All the information on the plant available in Urdu, Persian, Arabic language in classical Unani literature available in different libraries of India from recent to past were searched, for phyto-chemical and pharmacological activities and computerized databases such as Medline, Pubmed, Ovid SP, Google Scholar and Science-direct were searched. The temperament of Zeera siyah is Hot and Dry in third degree, therefore Unani scholars have recommended to detoxify it before use. Almost all phyto-chemcial, experimental and clinical trials carried out on Zeerah siyah were collected. It has been used for several centuries to treat gastrointestinal disorders and obesity in Unani system of medicine. It is Muhazzil (Anti-obesity); Daf-i Nafakh (Anti-Flatulent); Fad-i Zahar (Antidote) Hazim (Digestive); Mudammil-i Qurooh (Cicatrizant); Mudir-i Bawl (Diuretic); Mudir-i Shir (Galactogogue); Mudir-i Tams (Emmenogogue); Mufatti-i Hasaat (Lithotriptic); Kasir-i Riyah (Carminative) etc. as per Unani classical literature. Phytochemical studies reveals that it contains limonene, carvacrol, carvone, carvenone, -terpinene, [-pinene, linalool, and p-cymene etc. Total of twenty seven Unani classical books were referred. Thirty one different experimental and clinical studies were recognised. These studies prove the effect of Zeera siyah (Carum carvi Linn).