Ajmoda / Celery (Apium Graveolens)

Introduction:

Ajmoda's botanical name is Apium graveolens. This also goes by the name celery. It is an annual herbaceous plant, according to botany. It is well recognized that it is indigenous to Mediterranean areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

It can reach heights between 60 and 90 cm. The root structure is a tap root structure. Wild plants proliferate with fragrant, pinnatisect-leaved leaves. In another variety, known as a biennial form, plants start out with a basal rosette of leaves and later, in the summer, bloom in umbels of off-white flowers.

Umbels possess an inflorescence-like quality. The plants' blooms have five ovule-shaped petals with floured tips, making them quite tiny. The flower's carpals are semi-traditional subpentagonal and filiform in shape. The carpals' main ridges are clearly identifiable.

Schizocarp, a dry fruit that separates into single-seeded segments when ripe, is the type of fruit produced by the plant. These aromatic, 1 to 2 mm-diameter fruits have two mericarps that are suborbicular and ellipsoid in shape.

The flowers are a grayish-brown color. This plant exhibits cross-pollination. Two distinct types of crops can be traced back to Ajmoda. Grown for its tasty, crisp leaf stalks and leaves, Apium graveolens. Another is Ajmoda roots, which are grown for their tasty, larger roots that resemble turnips.

Description of Ajmoda:

Ajmoda is a very significant herb having excellent medicinal qualities according to Ayurveda. Ajmoda is called Apium graveolens in scientific terms. Apium graveolens belongs to the Apiaceae family.

Due to its off-white flowers' attraction to bees, the genus' name is taken from the Latin word for bee. "Graveolens" is the Latin word for "strongly scented." In India, it is grown as a cold-weather crop.

According to legend, in order to honor the athletes, people in ancient Greece used to crown their heads with ajmoda leaves. It underwent hybridization in the 17th century to lessen the intensity of its bitter taste.

Ajmoda is renowned for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary conditions. These aid in the treatment of bacterial and microbiological infections, inflammation, low appetite, high blood pressure, and digestive weakness.

This plant includes phytochemicals, which are primarily in charge of curing and treating illnesses. This plant contains alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, and carbohydrates. Phenols and furocoumarins, the plant's two primary active substances, are present.

Apigenin, tannins, apiin, isoquercitrin, graveobiosides A and B, and phytic acid are among the phenols. Osthenol, isopimpinellin, celerin, bergapten, isoimperatorin, celereoside, 5 and 8-hydroxy methoxypsoralen, apiumoside, apiumetin, and apigravrin are among the compounds found in furocoumarins.

Fatty acids, volatile oils, and sesquiterpene alcohols are present in the plant's oil from its seeds and leaves. However, plant-derived substances include camphene, cymene, sedanenolide, palmitoleic, palmitic, oleic, myristoleic, stearic acid, limonene, -pinene, -thuyene, p-cymene, -terpinene, -eudesmol, 3-n-butyl phthalide, and phthalide. 

Phytochemicals such as 5-methoxypsoralen, methoxsalen, and allergen profiling are also present in the plant's tuber. Due to the two to three percent essential oil content, its seeds are quite significant. Glycosides, selinene, limonene, and frocoumarin are all known to be present.

Classification:

• Kingdom - Plantae

• Order - Apiales

• Species - Graveolens

• Superdivision - Spermatophyta

• Division - Magnoliophyta

• Class - Magnoliopsida

• Subclass - Rosidae

• Subkingdom - Tracheobionta

• Family - Apiaceae

• Genus - Apium

Habitat:

The Italian lowlands are the home of this shrub. In France, it was initially grown for food in 1623. Its cultivation expanded from the Italian streets to Sweden, Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Asia, and India. 

It is cultivated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Western Himalayas of India. About 90% of the Ajmoda in India comes from Punjab.

Names:

• Latin name: Apium graveolens

• Sanskrit name: Ajmoda, Ayamoda, Ajmoja, Dipyaka

• Hindi name: Ajmuda, Ajmod

• Bengali name: Randhuni, Banyamani

• Marathi name: Oova, ajmoda

• Oriya name: Banajuani

• Kannada name: Oma, Ajavana, Omakki

• Malayalam name: Omam

• Tamil name: Omam

• Telugu name: Naranji vamu

• Unani name: Karafs-e-hindi

• Assamese name: Bonjamani, yamani, ajowan

• French name: Celeri

• Hungarian name: Zeller

• Spanish name: Apio

• Swedish name: Seller

• Irish name: Soilire

• Danish name: Seller

• Indonesian name: Seledri

• Gujarati name: Bodi ajamo, ajamo

• Kashmiri name: Fakhazur, banjuan

• Punjabi name: Valjawain, ajmod

• Urdu name: Ajmod

Ayurvedic Properties:

Effects on doshas:

It balances kapha and vata.

Classical categorization:

Practical Uses:

• This plant possesses stimulant, emmenagogue, diuretic, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, poisonous, laxative, and antispasmodic effects.

• It has anti-inflammatory effects that lessen joint discomfort and swelling.

• It exhibits antifungal efficacy against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella dysenteries. An album of Staphylococcus keeps cholesterol and blood pressure at normal levels.

• The diuretic properties of roots help with hypertension and urinary issues.

• As it improves relaxation, it is one of the best ayurvedic products for sleep; it is especially beneficial in cases of hysteria.

• This herb is used to treat renal and rheumatoid arthritis.

• The treatment of bronchitis, asthma, liver, and spleen disorders with celery seeds is well known.

• Galactogogue, diuretic, nervine stimulant, and emmenagogue effects are associated with the roots and the ripe seeds.

• Menstruation is encouraged by it.

• Anti-cancer compounds like polyacetylenes and phthalides have anti-cancer effects. These can cleanse the cigarette's carcinogens.

• It aids in reducing bodily edema.

Parts used:

Ajmoda Seeds, Fruits

Dosage:

Two to four grams

Precaution:

Avoid extra use in the case of pregnancy. It can cause uterine contractions.

Commonly used for:

1. Chitrakadi Vati Tablets

2. Shivakshara Powder

3. Hingwashtak Powder