Dill [Anethum graveolens; Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), Genus: Anethum]
Dill originates from Mediterranean and West Asia. It leaves are commonly used in salads and
tea while its seeds are used in tea, breads, soups, salads and preserves. The plant is a source
of protein, carbohydrate, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, sodium and potassium. It also contains
a small amount of riboflavin, niacin and zinc. [2]
Dill has also been used in traditional herbal medicine for more than 2000 years. Without
scientific evidence, the plant was thought to offer benefits on cough, cold and flu. And, its
seeds were believed to benefit various digestive problems. The seed essential oil may relieve
intestinal spasms and griping.
SIDE EFFECTS OF DILL
Reports on the side effects of dill are limited; the common side effect is dermatitis.
Phytophotodermatitis is a phototoxic eruption following contact with photosensitizing
compounds and long-wave ultraviolet light. The most common phototoxic compounds are the
furocoumarins contained in a wide variety of plants. Dill is one of the commonly occurring
photosensitizing plants. [1, 2]
POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF DILL
Dill has anti-microbial activities
Dill contains some chemicals which exhibit antimycobacterial activities, the chemicals include
oxypeucedanin, oxypeucedanin hydrate and falcarindiol. [3] Its essential oil shows activities
against some Gram-positive and negative bacteria as well as fungi. [4,5]
Dill has anti-oxidant activities.
The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts of dill is comparable with ascorbic acid,
alpha-tocopherol and quercetin in in-vitro systems. [6, 7]
Dill may have benefits of cholesterol lowering effects
Serum triacylglycerides and total cholesterol levels in rats, with hyperlipidaemia induced by diet,
were determined after oral adminstration of a water extract of Anethum graveolens leaves
before and after the extraction of the furocoumarin content of the leaves. Administration of the
extracts consecutively for 14 days reduced the triacylglycerides and total cholesterol levels by
almost 50 and 20%, respectively. Chloroform extraction of furocoumarins from the aqueous
extracts did not reduce the antihyperlipidaemic potential of the extracts to a significant degree.
Oral administration of the essential oil of A. graveolens seeds, at two different doses, also
reduced the triacylglyceride levels by almost 42%. The total cholesterol level was not reduced
by the same doses of the essential oil. [8]
Dill shows anti-cancer activities in test-tube and studies
Methanol extracts of dill shows anti-proliferative activities against tumor cell lines MK-1, HeLa
and B16F10. [9] The aqueous extracts of dill weed from Anethum graveolens L. and dill seeds
exhibited a mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium. The aqueous methanol extracts were
fractionated by the mutation assay. Isorhamnetin 3-sulfate (persicarin) and quercetin 3-sulfate
were characterized as the mutagenic principles. Carcinogenicity was not observed when the
diets containing dill weed and seeds in 33% were administered to the inbred strain ACI rats.
[11] Bioassay-directed fractionation of dill weed oil and caraway oil, respectively, from the
plants Anethum graveolens L. and Carum carvi L. (Umbelliferae) has led to the isolation of three
monoterpenes, anethofuran (1), carvone (2), and limonene (3). These compounds induced the
detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase in several mouse target tissues. The
alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone system in carvone appeared to be critical for the high
enzyme-inducing activity. [10] It is worth to conduct clinical studies to find out if dill benefits
patients suffered from cancers.
Dill is claimed to have benefits of gastric protection
Iran researchers claimed that dill seed extracts have significant mucosal protective and
antisecretory effects of the gastric mucosa in mice. They first induced gastric mucosal lesions by
oral administration of hydrochloric acid and absolute ethanol. They found high dose of dill seed
extract reduced the acidity and total acid content. [12]
ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2006 ZHION. DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTION. THIS ARTICLE IS
A REFERENCE ONLY.
[1] Egan CL, e l, Phytophotodermatitis: a visit to Margaritaville. Cutis. 1993 Jan;51(1):41-2. [2] Duke. J. A.
and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4. [3]
Stavri M, Gibbons S. The antimycobacterial constituents of dill (Anethum graveolens). Phytother Res. 2005
Nov;19(11):938-41. [4] Lopez P, et al, Solid- and vapor-phase antimicrobial activities of six essential oils:
susceptibility of selected foodborne bacterial and fungal strains. : J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Aug
24;53(17):6939-46. [5] Jirovetz L, et al, Composition, quality control, and antimicrobial activity of the
essential oil of long-time stored dill (Anethum graveolens L.) seeds from Bulgaria. J Agric Food Chem. 2003
Jun 18;51(13):3854-7. [6] Satyanarayana S, The extracts of dill fruits show antioxidant activities in an
in-vitro study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2004;4(2):1-10. [7] Souri E, The antioxidant activity of some
commonly used vegetables in Iranian diet. Fitoterapia. 2004 Sep;75(6):585-8. [8] Yazdanparast R, Alavi
M. Antihyperlipidaemic and antihypercholesterolaemic effects of Anethum graveolens leaves after the
removal of furocoumarins. Cytobios. 2001;105(410):185-91. [9] Nakano Y, et al, Antiproliferative
constituents in Umbelliferae plants II. Screening for polyacetylenes in some Umbelliferae plants, and
isolation of panaxynol and falcarindiol from the root of Heracleum moellendorffii. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998
Mar;21(3):257-61. [10] Zheng GQ, et al, Anethofuran, carvone, and limonene: potential cancer
chemopreventive agents from dill weed oil and caraway oil. Planta Med. 1992 Aug;58(4):338-41. [11]
Fukuoka M, et al, Characterization of mutagenic principles and carcinogenicity of dill weed and seeds. J
Pharmacobiodyn. 1980 May;3(5):236-44. [12] Hosseinzadeh H, et al, Effects of Anethum graveolens L.
seed extracts on experimental gastric irritation models in mice. BMC Pharmacol. 2002 Dec 19;2:21. Epub
2002 Dec 19.
Dill originates from Mediterranean and West Asia. It leaves are commonly used in salads and
tea while its seeds are used in tea, breads, soups, salads and preserves. The plant is a source
of protein, carbohydrate, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, sodium and potassium. It also contains
a small amount of riboflavin, niacin and zinc. [2]
Dill has also been used in traditional herbal medicine for more than 2000 years. Without
scientific evidence, the plant was thought to offer benefits on cough, cold and flu. And, its
seeds were believed to benefit various digestive problems. The seed essential oil may relieve
intestinal spasms and griping.
SIDE EFFECTS OF DILL
Reports on the side effects of dill are limited; the common side effect is dermatitis.
Phytophotodermatitis is a phototoxic eruption following contact with photosensitizing
compounds and long-wave ultraviolet light. The most common phototoxic compounds are the
furocoumarins contained in a wide variety of plants. Dill is one of the commonly occurring
photosensitizing plants. [1, 2]
POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF DILL
Dill has anti-microbial activities
Dill contains some chemicals which exhibit antimycobacterial activities, the chemicals include
oxypeucedanin, oxypeucedanin hydrate and falcarindiol. [3] Its essential oil shows activities
against some Gram-positive and negative bacteria as well as fungi. [4,5]
Dill has anti-oxidant activities.
The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts of dill is comparable with ascorbic acid,
alpha-tocopherol and quercetin in in-vitro systems. [6, 7]
Dill may have benefits of cholesterol lowering effects
Serum triacylglycerides and total cholesterol levels in rats, with hyperlipidaemia induced by diet,
were determined after oral adminstration of a water extract of Anethum graveolens leaves
before and after the extraction of the furocoumarin content of the leaves. Administration of the
extracts consecutively for 14 days reduced the triacylglycerides and total cholesterol levels by
almost 50 and 20%, respectively. Chloroform extraction of furocoumarins from the aqueous
extracts did not reduce the antihyperlipidaemic potential of the extracts to a significant degree.
Oral administration of the essential oil of A. graveolens seeds, at two different doses, also
reduced the triacylglyceride levels by almost 42%. The total cholesterol level was not reduced
by the same doses of the essential oil. [8]
Dill shows anti-cancer activities in test-tube and studies
Methanol extracts of dill shows anti-proliferative activities against tumor cell lines MK-1, HeLa
and B16F10. [9] The aqueous extracts of dill weed from Anethum graveolens L. and dill seeds
exhibited a mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium. The aqueous methanol extracts were
fractionated by the mutation assay. Isorhamnetin 3-sulfate (persicarin) and quercetin 3-sulfate
were characterized as the mutagenic principles. Carcinogenicity was not observed when the
diets containing dill weed and seeds in 33% were administered to the inbred strain ACI rats.
[11] Bioassay-directed fractionation of dill weed oil and caraway oil, respectively, from the
plants Anethum graveolens L. and Carum carvi L. (Umbelliferae) has led to the isolation of three
monoterpenes, anethofuran (1), carvone (2), and limonene (3). These compounds induced the
detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase in several mouse target tissues. The
alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone system in carvone appeared to be critical for the high
enzyme-inducing activity. [10] It is worth to conduct clinical studies to find out if dill benefits
patients suffered from cancers.
Dill is claimed to have benefits of gastric protection
Iran researchers claimed that dill seed extracts have significant mucosal protective and
antisecretory effects of the gastric mucosa in mice. They first induced gastric mucosal lesions by
oral administration of hydrochloric acid and absolute ethanol. They found high dose of dill seed
extract reduced the acidity and total acid content. [12]
ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2006 ZHION. DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTION. THIS ARTICLE IS
A REFERENCE ONLY.
[1] Egan CL, e l, Phytophotodermatitis: a visit to Margaritaville. Cutis. 1993 Jan;51(1):41-2. [2] Duke. J. A.
and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4. [3]
Stavri M, Gibbons S. The antimycobacterial constituents of dill (Anethum graveolens). Phytother Res. 2005
Nov;19(11):938-41. [4] Lopez P, et al, Solid- and vapor-phase antimicrobial activities of six essential oils:
susceptibility of selected foodborne bacterial and fungal strains. : J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Aug
24;53(17):6939-46. [5] Jirovetz L, et al, Composition, quality control, and antimicrobial activity of the
essential oil of long-time stored dill (Anethum graveolens L.) seeds from Bulgaria. J Agric Food Chem. 2003
Jun 18;51(13):3854-7. [6] Satyanarayana S, The extracts of dill fruits show antioxidant activities in an
in-vitro study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2004;4(2):1-10. [7] Souri E, The antioxidant activity of some
commonly used vegetables in Iranian diet. Fitoterapia. 2004 Sep;75(6):585-8. [8] Yazdanparast R, Alavi
M. Antihyperlipidaemic and antihypercholesterolaemic effects of Anethum graveolens leaves after the
removal of furocoumarins. Cytobios. 2001;105(410):185-91. [9] Nakano Y, et al, Antiproliferative
constituents in Umbelliferae plants II. Screening for polyacetylenes in some Umbelliferae plants, and
isolation of panaxynol and falcarindiol from the root of Heracleum moellendorffii. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998
Mar;21(3):257-61. [10] Zheng GQ, et al, Anethofuran, carvone, and limonene: potential cancer
chemopreventive agents from dill weed oil and caraway oil. Planta Med. 1992 Aug;58(4):338-41. [11]
Fukuoka M, et al, Characterization of mutagenic principles and carcinogenicity of dill weed and seeds. J
Pharmacobiodyn. 1980 May;3(5):236-44. [12] Hosseinzadeh H, et al, Effects of Anethum graveolens L.
seed extracts on experimental gastric irritation models in mice. BMC Pharmacol. 2002 Dec 19;2:21. Epub
2002 Dec 19.
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THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU
SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2008 zhion. DO NOT
COPY NOR TRANSFER THE CONTENT TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER TYPES OF
PUBLICATIONS.
SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2008 zhion. DO NOT
COPY NOR TRANSFER THE CONTENT TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER TYPES OF
PUBLICATIONS.