GREATER AMMI Ammi majus
Apiaceae
Importance
Greater Ammi, also known as Bishop’s weed or Honey plant is an annual or
biennial herb which is extensively used in the treatment of leucoderma (vitiligo) and
psoriasis. The compounds responsible for this are reported to be furocoumarins like
ammoidin (xanthotoxin), ammidin (imperatorin) and majudin (bergapten) present in the
seed. Xanthotoxin is marketed under the trade name “Ox soralen” which is administered
orally in doses of 50 mg t.d. or applied externally as 1% liniment followed by exposure of
affected areas to sunlight or UV light for 2 hours. It is also used in “Suntan lotion”.
Meladinine is a by-product of Ammi majus processing, containing both xanthotoxin and
imperatorin sold in various formulations increases pigmentation of normal skin and induces
repigmentation in vitiligo. Imperatorin has antitumour activity. Fruit or seed causes
photosensitization in fouls and sheep.
Distribution
The plant is indigenous to Egypt and it grows in the Nile Valley, especially in Behira
and Fayoom. It is also found in the basin of the Mediterranean Sea, in Syria, Palestine,
Abyssinia, West Africa, in some regions of Iran and the mountains of Kohaz (Ramadan,
1982). It grows wild in the wild state in Abbottabad, Mainwali, Mahran and is cultivated in
Pakistan. The crop was introduced to India in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, in
1955 through the courtesy of UNESCO. Since then, the crop has been grown for its medicinal
fruit in several places in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kashmir and Tamil Nadu.
Botany
Ammi majus Linn. belongs to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). A. visnaga is
another related species of medicinal importance. A. majus is an annual or beinnial herb
growing to a height of 80 to 120 cm. It has a long tap root, solid erect stem, decompound
leaves, light green alternate, variously pinnately divided, having lanceolate to oval segments.
Inflorescence is axillary and terminal compound umbels with white flowers. The fruits are
ribbed, ellipsoid, green to greenish brown when immature, turning reddish brown at maturity
and having a characteristic terebinthinate odour becoming strong on crushing with extremely
pungent and slightly bitter taste.
Agrotechnology
Ammi is relatively cold loving and it comes up well under subtropical and temperate
conditions. It does not prefer heavy rainfall. Though the plant is biennial it behaves as an
annual under cultivation in India. A mild cool climate in the early stages of crop growth and
a warm dry weather at maturity is ideal. It is cultivated as a winter annual crop in rabi
season. A wide variety of soils from sandy loam to clay loam are suitable. However, a well
drained loamy soil is the best. Waterlogged soils are not good. Being a hardy crop, it thrives
on poor and degraded soils.
The plant is seed propagated. Seeds germinate within 10-12 days of sowing. The
best time of sowing is October and the crop duration is 160-170 days in north India. Crop
sown later gives lower yield. The crop can be raised either by direct sowing of seed or by
raising a nursery and then transplanting the crop. Seed rate is 2 kg/ha. The land is brought to