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.
(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 Benefits and Side Effects |
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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.