Nomenclature
Ptychotis oil. Description and references
Obtained by distillation of seeds of Carum
copticum (DC.) Benth. & Hook. (Ptychotis ajowan DC.), Umbelliferae. Contains thymol, α-pinene, p-cymene, dipentene, γ-terpinene; fixed oil content includes
petroselenic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, resin acids, and palmitic
acid. Ref: Farook et al. J. Sci. Food Agric. 4, 132 (1953); E. Guenther, The Essential Oils IV, 551-2 (Van
Nostrand, New York, 1950).
Properties
Almost colorless or brownish liquid; thyme odor;
sharp burning taste. d 0.910-0.930. Rotation 0° to +5°. nD20 1.498-1.504. Sol
in 1-2.5 vol and more of 80% alcohol. The oil is toxic to earthworms,
while alcoholic extracts are toxic to staphylococci and Escherichia
coli. Dil extracts are useful as expectorants: Umanskii, Krutik, Farmatsiya 8, no. 6, 19 (1945), C.A. 41, 2209 (1947).