Botanical Name - Elwendia persica/Bunium persicum
Category - Spices


Form - Dry

Part Used - Seeds


General Information - "Elwendia persica, synonym Bunium persicum, is a plant species in the family Apiaceae. Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch is a plant of Apiaceae family called wild caraway. It is a perennial aromatic plant with small white or pink fowers and small brown beans growing wild in areas with Mediterranean climate such as central and western Asia including Iran, Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, North India (Kashmir and Pamir), China, some parts of Europe, Northern Africa and South America.

This plant is called with diferent names throughout the world as Great pignut, Black zire, Black caraway, Carum carvi, Persian Cumin, Zire kuhi, Shah zira, Kala Zeera, Jira, Wild caraway and wild cumin. B. Persicum (BP) has small (30 cm) to tall (80 cm) varieties which squeezed or expanded with large or small branches. B. persicum (BP) is used for culinary intentions as a spice and flavoring agent in foods and beverages such as bread cooking, rice, yoghurt, cheese and in confectionery products. It has a strong earthy aroma is sharpened by frying and cooking it. This plant is also used in the perfume and cosmetics."


Phytochemicals - Phytochemical profile of Bunium persicum (Boiss.) has shown flavonoids, phenolic acids, and aldehydes as well as a high content of mono-terpenes and sesquiterpenes contained in the essential oil and extracts of this plant. In recent years, application of natural compounds particularly medicinal plants has increased in food due to their potential to increase the food safety and shelf life.