Preliminary Safety Evaluation and Biochemical Efficacy of a Carum carvi Extract: Results from a Randomized, Triple‐Blind, and Placebo‐Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Carum carvi L. (Apiaceae) is known as caraway, and its derivatives find wide medicinal use for health purposes, including for gastrointestinal problems and obesity. Since there is inconsistency among the reports on the safety of this plant in humans, this research was aimed at assessing the safety of a characterized caraway aqueous extract (CAE) in a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study. Seventy, overweight and obese, healthy women were randomly assigned into placebo (n = 35) and plant extract (n = 35) groups. Participants received either 30 ml/day of CAE or placebo. Subjects were examined at baseline and after 12 weeks for changes in heart rate, blood pressure, urine test, 25-item blood chemistries, and general health status. No significant changes of blood pressure, heart rate, urine specific gravity, and serum blood tests were observed between the two groups before and after treatment. However, in the complete blood count test, red blood cell levels were significantly (p < 0.01) increased, and platelet distribution width was significantly decreased after the dietary CAE treatment, as compared with placebo. No negative changes were observed in the general health status of the two groups. This preliminary study suggests that the oral intake of CAE appears to be without any adverse effects at a dosage of 30 ml daily for a period of 12 weeks.

The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

“…Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, carminative and immunomodulatory properties of caraway along with anticolitis (Keshavarz et al 2013). Daily intake of caraway extract for gastrointestinal problems in obese subjects for 12 weeks has not adverse effects (Kazemipoor et al 2014) with antiobesity effects in women (Kazemipoor et al 2013); cholesterol and triglycerides lowering activities in normal and STZ diabetic rats (Lemhadri et al 2006) were reported.…”

Slimming and Appetite-Suppressing Effects of Caraway Aqueous Extract as a Natural Therapy in Physically Active Women

“…1). These bioactive compounds present in CAE may be effective, individually or synergistically, in the management of obesity, reducing body size, body weight, body fat, and appetite (Kazemipoor et al, 2014b).…”

“…Moreover, body muscle percentage showed a significant increase in the CAE group compared with the placebo group. Safety studies on this plant-based composition, including blood biomarkers, kidney function, liver function, heart function, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, complete blood count test, and urine test, showed no significant side effects on participants during the treatment period (Kazemipoor et al, 2014b). Furthermore, the phytochemical content of CAE was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showing that the predominant ingredients detected from the GC-MS analysis were a range of different volatile and phenolic compounds (Kazemipoor et al, 2013).…”

Alice, Benzene, and Coffee: The ABCs of Ecopharmacognosy

“…for new biological responses. One recent study found that an aqueous extract of caraway seed could have an obesity-reducing effect [102,103]. Finally, microfluidic, lab-on-achip approaches to the chemical and biological assessment of plant samples in the field (previously referred to as "pharmacognosy in a suitcase") [25-27, 29, 30, 34] would save significantly on the drying, transportation, and macro-analytic processes required to evaluate the optimal time for accessing plant materials for therapeutic purposes based on the levels of their bioactive agents.…”