Cumin Essential Oil (Cuminum cyminum)
Overview
Cumin may also be referred to as Cuminum seeds, Jeera. It is typically processed using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the seeds.
Summary
When intending to purchase Cumin Essential Oil, it's important to ensure that you double check the method of extraction to ensure that it's steam distilled. If you see that the method of extraction is listed as being cold pressed or expeller pressed, the oil is a carrier oil (vegetable oil) and is not an essential oil. The steam distilled essential oil and the cold pressed carrier oil each offer numerous, but different benefits.
Cumin Essential Oil appears to be comprised primarily of monoterpenes and aldehydes. It's primary component is Cuminaldehyde. Aromatically, a little goes a long way. The oil possesses a rich, spicy, earthy aroma that some find sensual. It is sometimes used within fragrancing applications, and it blends especially well with other oils within the spice, wood and citrus families.
For more information about Cumin Essential Oil, read the details shown below, and be sure to read the the Safety Information section below to learn more about its photo toxic risk within dermal applications.
Essential Facts
- Aroma Description:
- Common Name(s): Cuminum seeds, Jeera
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Synonyms(s) for Cuminum cyminum: Cuminia cyminum, Cuminum aegyptiacum, Cuminum cyminum subsp. hispanicum, Cuminum hispanicum, Cuminum odorum, Cuminum officinale, Cuminum sativum, Cuminum sudanense, Cyminon longeinvolucellatum, Ligusticum cuminum, Luerssenia cyminum, Selinum cuminum
- Botanical Family: Apiaceae
- Botanical Genus: Cuminum
- Major Compounds: Cuminaldehyde, Cymene, Phellandrene, Myrcene, Limonene, Farnesene, Caryophyllene
- Perfumery Note: Middle - Base
- Consistency: Medium
- Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong
- Color: Deep Golden Yellow
- Indigenous Country: Middle - Base
- Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
- Part Typically Used: Seeds
Earthy
Sensual
Spicy-
Vegan
Essential Details
Benefits & Uses
May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:
Colic
Fatigue
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Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)
Indigestion
Poor Blood Circulation
Toxin Build-up
Cautions & Safety
Cautions when using Cumin:
Cumin Oil isphototoxic. Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young recommend a dermal maximum of 0.4%. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 87.] Avoid Cumin Oil during pregnancy. [Julia Lawless,The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 161.] [Robert Tisserand,Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 264.]
Safety Precautions for Cumin:
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Articles
Cumin Articles or Publications:
- PubMed: Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of Sirjan in Kerman Province, Iran.
- PubMed: Metabolomics driven analysis of six Nigella species seeds via UPLC-qTOF-MS and GC-MS coupled to chemometrics.
- PubMed: Antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic properties of Cuminum cyminum (L.) seed essential oil and its efficacy as a preservative in stored commodities.
- PubMed: Comparative effects of using black seed (Nigella sativa), cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum), probiotic or prebiotic on growth performance, blood haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chicks.
- PubMed: Effects of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa L.) on performance and immune system in newly evolved crossbred laying hens.
- PubMed: Levels of organophosphorus pesticides in medicinal plants commonly consumed in Iran.
- PubMed: Nigella sativa (black cumin) seed extract alleviates symptoms of allergic diarrhea in mice, involving opioid receptors.
- PubMed: The role of nitric oxide in the effects of cumin (Cuminum Cyminum L.) fruit essential oil on the acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in adult male mice.
- PubMed: Studies on antimicrobial activities of solvent extracts of different spices.
- PubMed: Anti-neoplastic agent thymoquinone induces degradation of α and β tubulin proteins in human cancer cells without affecting their level in normal human fibroblasts.
- PubMed: Biosynthesis of Au nanoparticles using cumin seed powder extract.
- PubMed: In vitro antifungal effect of black cumin seed quinones against dairy spoilage yeasts at different acidity levels.
- PubMed: Antifungal efficacy of Punica granatum, Acacia nilotica, Cuminum cyminum and Foeniculum vulgare on Candida albicans: an in vitro study.
- PubMed: Protective effects of black cumin (Nigella sativa) oil on TNBS-induced experimental colitis in rats.
- PubMed: Effect of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seed essential oil on biofilm formation and plasmid Integrity of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- PubMed: Effects of Nigella sativa seed extract on ameliorating lung tissue damage in rats after experimental pulmonary aspirations.
- PubMed: Screening of antioxidant properties of seven Umbelliferae fruits from Iran.
- PubMed: Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) supplementation into the diet of the laying hen positively influences egg yield parameters, shell quality, and decreases egg cholesterol.
- PubMed: From here to eternity - the secret of Pharaohs: Therapeutic potential of black cumin seeds and beyond.
- PubMed: Effects of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum L. on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice.
- PubMed: Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seed essential oil and alcoholic extract on the morphology, capsule expression and urease activity of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- PubMed: Effects of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Apiaceae) on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice.
- PubMed: The effect of Nigella sativa L. (black cumin seed) on intractable pediatric seizures.
- PubMed: The influence of different single dietary sources on moult induction in laying hens.
- PubMed: Effects of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Apiaceae) on pentylenetetrazol-induced epileptiform activity in F1 neurones of Helix aspersa.
- PubMed: Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene C4 synthase in human blood cells by thymoquinone.
- PubMed: Black cumin seed essential oil, as a potent analgesic and antiinflammatory drug.
- PubMed: Chemopreventive effects of Cuminum cyminum in chemically induced forestomach and uterine cervix tumors in murine model systems.
- PubMed: Sesquiterpene lactone glucosides and alkyl glycosides from the fruit of cumin.
- PubMed: Water-soluble constituents of cumin: monoterpenoid glucosides.
- PubMed: Effect of feeding Cuminum cyminum fruits, Thymus vulgaris leaves or their mixture to rats.
- PubMed: Microbiological survey of retail herbs and spices from Mexican markets.
- PubMed: Bioavailability of iron from four different local food plants in Jordan.
- PubMed: Detection of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in spices used in Mexico by dot blotting using a DNA probe.
- PubMed: Influence of certain essential oils on carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes and acid-soluble sulfhydryls in mouse liver.
- PubMed: Estimation of free amino acids, protein and amino acid compositions of cumin seed (Cuminum cyminum) of Iran.