Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Carrot seed oil contains a-pinene (up to
13.3%), b-pinene, carotol (up to 18.29%),
daucol, limonene,b-bisabolene, b-elemene,
()-b-bergamotene, g-decalactone, b-farne-
sene, geraniol, geranyl acetate (up to
10.39%), caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide,
methyleugenol,nerolidol,eugenol,trans-asar-
one, vanillin, asarone,a-terpineol, terpinen-
4-ol,g-decanolactone, coumarin,b-selinene,
2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, among others.
Other constituents present include oleic acid,
palmitic acid, butyric acid, 4-hydroxybenzyl
alcohol, and others (JIANGSU).1–13Oil content is
highly variable, from 0.05% to 7.15%.^10

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES

COX-I and -II-inhibiting activity of the oil is
largely attributed totrans-asaraone, 2,4,5-tri-
methoxybenzaldehyde, geraniol, and oleic
acid.^14 trans-Asaraone is toxic to mosquito
larvaein vitroand some species of nematodes
and caterpillars in vivo. It also inhibits
the in vitro growth of Candida albicans,
C. kruseii, andC. parapsilasis.^11 The seed oil
inhibits thein vitrogrowth ofCampylobacter
jejuni^15 andHelicobacter pylori. In mice in-
fected withH. pylori, oral administration of
the oil cleared the bacteria in 20–30% of
cases.^16 In vitroactivity of the oil was also
shown againstAspergillus parasiticusand its
production of aflatoxin. Active constituents
were identified as limonene and terpinene.^17
Carrot seed oil has also shown in vitro
vasodilatory and smooth-muscle relaxant
activities on isolated animal organs. It also
depressed cardiac action in isolated frog and
dog hearts.

TOXICOLOGY

Data indicate carrot seed oil to be nontoxic.^5
However, the chloroform/methanol fraction
and petroleum ether extracts of the seeds have

shown antifertility activity in female rats

(20 mg/kg p.o.).^18

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.

Carrot seed oil is used primarily as a fragrance

component in soaps, detergents, creams,

lotions, and perfumes. Highest use level re-

ported is 0.4% in perfumes.^5

Carrot root oil is used in certain sunscreen

preparations and as a source ofb-carotene and

vitamin A.

Food. Carrot seed oil is used as a flavor

ingredient in most major categories of food

products, including alcoholic (particularly

liqueurs) and nonalcoholic beverages, frozen

dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins

and puddings, meat and meat products; con-

diments and relishes, and soups, usually in

rather low use levels (<0.003%).

Carrot root oil is used mainly as a yellow

food color because of its carotene content.

Traditional Medicine. Seeds used as a di-

uretic and emmenagogue and for flatulence in

the form of a decoction or infusion; in Chinese

medicine to treat chronic dysentery and as an

anthelmintic.

Others. Carrot seed oil can serve as sources

of carotol and daucol, which have potential as

starting materials for the synthesis of new

fragrance compounds.4,19

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Available as carrot oil (that can be either seed

oil or root oil); seed oil is official in F.C.C.

Regulatory Status. Carrot (seed) oil is GRAS

(§182.20), and carrot (root) oil has been ap-

proved for use as a food color (§73.300); no

distinction between root oil and seed oil is

given in §182.20.

148 Carrot oils