Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Dill vs Caraway
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Dill and Caraway: both belong to the Apiaceae family; they share 5 indicated uses (bloating, cancer (anticancer research), indigestion, …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Dill | Caraway | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloating | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Indigestion | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Infection (general) | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
| Wounds | 8/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Dill |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Seed essential oil dominated by the monoterpene ketone carvone and limonene, giving dill its characteristic aroma and much of its carminative and antimicrobial activity.
Antioxidant flavonoids and phenolics identified in metabolomic analysis of leaf and seed extracts.
Seed essential oil dominated by carvone (giving the characteristic caraway aroma) and limonene, responsible for much of the carminative and antimicrobial activity.
Minor antioxidant constituents of the seed and aerial parts.
Pharmacological Actions
Anethum graveolens (dill) extract and essential oil induce ROS-mediated apoptosis in melanoma and lung adenocarcinoma cells (preclinical).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Anethum graveolens (dill) extract induces ROS-mediated apoptosis in HT-144 melanoma cells, and its essential oil is selectively cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic against A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells (preclinical).
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from appetite-stimulant action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Widely used as a food herb/spice; WHO monograph notes a “generally regarded as safe” status as a flavouring agent (World Health Organization, 2007). Allergic reactions (including oral itching, swelling, urticaria, vomiting/diarrhoea) are reported; avoid if you react to Apiaceae-family plants (World Health Organization, 2007; Egyptian Drug Authority, n.d.).
Duke (2002) provides clinical evidence (score 2) for dill's antibacterial and antispasmodic activities, consistent with Commission E and PhEur approvals. Traditional uses include management of colic, dyspepsia, and flatulence. The plant is a well-documented lactagogue (promotes milk production) and has a mild hypotensive effect. Dose: 1–3 g seeds as tea three times daily. Dill is generally safe (++) with no known significant contraindications at culinary and medicinal doses (Duke, 2002).
Generally very safe as a food spice (normal culinary amounts).Tea (traditional use): The EU herbal monograph describes caraway fruit tea for bloating/flatulence and gives a typical adult infusion dose of 0.5–2 g in 150 ml hot water, 1–3× daily; if symptoms last >2 weeks, seek medical advice. Allergy caution: Avoid if you’re allergic to Apiaceae family plants (e.g., fennel, anise, celery, coriander, dill) or have known cross-allergies (the monograph also mentions mugwort/birch allergy). Gallbladder/bile problems: Not recommended if you have gallstones or other biliary disorders (caraway can stimulate bile flow). Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Safety isn’t well established for medicinal dosing, so not recommended as a “treatment” during pregnancy/lactation (food use is a different story). Children: The EU monograph does not recommend medicinal use under 12 due to lack of data. Essential oil caution: Caraway essential oil is highly concentrated—don’t self-dose internally; it can irritate and is easy to overdo.
Duke (2002) provides clinical evidence (score 2) for caraway as an appetite stimulant, cough suppressant, cholagogue, and bronchitis remedy, consistent with Commission E approvals. It demonstrates anti-Candida activity and antispasmodic effects on gastrointestinal smooth muscle. Recommended dose: 1.5–6 g of fruit daily, or 3–6 drops of essential oil. The herb is classified as generally safe with no known hazards at therapeutic doses, though it should be used cautiously in pregnancy due to mild emmenagogue activity (Duke, 2002).
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Botanical Description
Aromatic annual herb with a slender, hollow, ridged, blue-green stem. The leaves are finely divided into thread-like segments, feathery and soft, similar to fennel but more delicate. Small yellow flowers are borne in flat, wide compound umbels at the stem tips in summer, ripening into flattened, ridged, aromatic seeds (fruits).[1]
Biennial (occasionally annual) herb with finely divided, feathery, carrot-like leaves similar to those of other Apiaceae. In its second year it sends up a branched, grooved, hollow flowering stem topped with flat compound umbels of small white or pinkish flowers, followed by the characteristic curved, ridged, strongly aromatic seeds (the familiar rye-bread spice).[4]
Habitat
Believed native to the eastern Mediterranean, Western Asia and southern Russia; widely cultivated as a culinary and medicinal herb in gardens and fields across Europe, Asia and the Americas.[1]
Grows in meadows, grassy roadsides and waste ground on well-drained soils; native to Europe and Western Asia and widely cultivated as a spice crop.
Harvesting
Leaves are picked fresh through the growing season; the seeds are harvested in late summer once the umbels have browned and dried, then threshed and dried further before storage.
The seed is harvested in mid- to late summer of the second year, once the umbels have browned and dried, then threshed and dried further; leaves can be picked through the first year and the root dug in autumn of year one or spring of year two.
Traditional Uses
Dill seed and leaf have a long culinary-medicinal history as a carminative digestive remedy for colic, dyspepsia and flatulence, and as a traditional lactagogue (galactagogue) to support breastfeeding; dill water ('gripe water') is a classic infant remedy for colic.[1]
Caraway seed is one of the classic Apiaceae carminative digestive spices, used traditionally for indigestion, bloating, flatulence and poor appetite, and, per the EU herbal monograph, for symptomatic relief of mild digestive complaints and bloating.[4]
Preparations
Crushed or lightly crushed seed infused in hot water as a traditional carminative digestive tea.
Dosage
The WHO monograph on Fructus Anethi gives an average daily dose of 3 g of the dried ripe fruit, or 0.1-0.3 g of the essential oil, or the equivalent in other preparations. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph describes traditional use of about 0.5-2 g crushed fruit (seed) per 150 mL hot water, 1-3 times daily, in adolescents, adults and elderly; not recommended under 12 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
References & Sources
- Thanuma, J., Phetcharaburanin, J., Dokduang, H., Loilome, W. and others (2025) 'Metabolomic analysis of bioactive compounds in dill (Anethum graveolens L.) extracts', PeerJ, 13, pp. e19567. doi:10.7717/peerj.19567 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19567 - Sharma, H., Yang, H., Sharma, N. and An, S.S.A (2024) 'Neuroprotection by Anethum graveolens (Dill) Seeds and Its Phytocompounds in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Lines and Acellular Assays', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(13), pp. 7104. doi:10.3390/ijms25137104 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137104 - Mohammed, F.A., Elkady, A.I., Syed, F.Q., Mirza, M.B. and others (2018) 'Anethum graveolens (dill) - A medicinal herb induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cell line', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 219, pp. 15-22. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.008 - Haidari, F., Zakerkish, M., Borazjani, F., Ahmadi Angali, K. and others (2020) 'The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes', Trials, 21(1), pp. 483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3 - Li, Z., Xue, Y., Li, M., Guo, Q. and others (2018) 'The Antioxidation of Different Fractions of Dill (Anethum graveolens) and Their Influences on Cytokines in Macrophages RAW264.7', Journal of Oleo Science, 67(12), pp. 1535-1541. doi:10.5650/jos.ess18134 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess18134 - Jang, S.A., Lee, S.J., Hwang, Y.H. and Ha, H (2023) 'Anti-Osteoporotic Potential of Water Extract of Anethum graveolens L. Seeds', Nutrients, 15(19), pp. 4302. doi:10.3390/nu15194302 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194302 - Stavri, M. and Gibbons, S (2005) 'The antimycobacterial constituents of dill (Anethum graveolens)', Phytotherapy Research, 19(11), pp. 938-941. doi:10.1002/ptr.1758 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1758 - Orhan, I.E., Senol, F.S., Ozturk, N., Celik, S.A. and others (2013) 'Phytochemical contents and enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) samples cultivated under organic and conventional agricultural conditions', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 59, pp. 96-103. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.053 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.05.053 - Tian, J., Ban, X., Zeng, H., He, J. and others (2012) 'The mechanism of antifungal action of essential oil from dill (Anethum graveolens L.) on Aspergillus flavus', PLoS One, 7(1), pp. e30147. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030147 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030147 - Castro, L.M., Pinto, N.B., Moura, M.Q., Villela, M.M. and others (2021) 'Antihelminthic action of the Anethum graveolens essential oil on Haemonchus contortus eggs and larvae', Brazilian Journal of Biology, 81(1), pp. 183-188. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.225856 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.225856 - World Health Organization (2007) 'Fructus Anethi'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Egyptian Drug Authority (n.d.). Available at: https://dev.edaegypt.gov.eg/media/a4kf0fmp/anethum-graveolens_1.pdf Traditional / reference
https://dev.edaegypt.gov.eg/media/a4kf0fmp/anethum-graveolens_1.pdf - Haidari, F., Mohammadshahi, M., Zarei, M., Gorji, Z., Asghari-Jafarabadi, M. and Alizadeh, M (2020) 'The effects of anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes'. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102367 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102367 - Mousavi, S.M., Pizarro, A.B., Akhgarjand, C., Bagheri, A., Persad, E., Karimi, E., Wong, A. and Jayedi, A (2022) 'The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) supplementation on lipid profile and glycemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', 62(21), pp. 5705--5716. doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1889459 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1889459 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:837530-1 Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:837530-1 - World Health Organization (2007) 'WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Volume 3: ‘Fructus Anethi'. Available at: https://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Fitoterapia-Plantas-WHO-03_2007.pdf Traditional / reference
https://e-lactancia.org/media/papers/Fitoterapia-Plantas-WHO-03_2007.pdf - Aydogmus-Ozturk, F. and Jahan, H. and Ozturk, M. and Gunaydin, K. and Choudhary, M.I (2020) 'Preclinical study of the medicinal plants for the treatment of malignant melanoma', Molecular Biology Reports, 47(8), pp. 5975-5983. doi:10.1007/s11033-020-05671-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05671-5 - Tavakkol Afshari, H.S. and Homayouni Tabrizi, M. and Ardalan, T. and Jalili Anoushirvani, N. and Mahdizadeh, R (2021) 'Anethum graveolens Essential Oil Nanoemulsions (AGEO-NE) as an Exclusive Apoptotic Inducer in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) Cells', Nutrition and Cancer, 74(4), pp. 1411-1419. doi:10.1080/01635581.2021.1952450 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1952450 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Washington State University Extension, Yakima County (2025) 'One Invasive, One Native, Both Deadly'. Available at: https://extension.wsu.edu/yakima/2025/08/09/one-invasive-one-native-both-deadly/ Traditional / reference
https://extension.wsu.edu/yakima/2025/08/09/one-invasive-one-native-both-deadly/ - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 - Grow Forage Cook Ferment 'Poison Hemlock: How to Identify and Potential Look-alikes'. Available at: https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/ Traditional / reference
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/
- Keshavarz, A., Minaiyan, M., Ghannadi, A. and Mahzouni, P (2013) 'Effects of Carum carvi L. (Caraway) extract and essential oil on TNBS-induced colitis in rats', Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8(1), pp. 1-8. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24459470/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24459470/ - Ghannay, S., Aouadi, K., Kadri, A. and Snoussi, M (2022) 'GC-MS Profiling, Vibriocidal, Antioxidant, Antibiofilm, and Anti-Quorum Sensing Properties of Carum carvi L. Essential Oil: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches', Plants (Basel), 11(8), pp. 1072. doi:10.3390/plants11081072 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11081072 - Trifan, A., Aprotosoaie, A.C., Cioancă, O., Hăcianu, M. et al (2016) 'Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil From Carum carvi L. Cultivated in North-Eastern Romania', Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi, 120(3), pp. 732-736. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152663/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30152663/ - Keshavarz, A., Minaiyan, M., Ghannadi, A. and Mahzouni, P (2013) 'Effects of Carum carvi L. (Caraway) extract and essential oil on TNBS-induced colitis in rats', Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8(1), pp. 1-8. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Effects%20of%20Carum%20carvi%20L.%20%28Caraway%29%20extract%20and%20essential%20oil%20on%20TNBS-induced%20colitis%20in%20rats - Liu, C., Cheng, F., Aisa, H.A. and Maiwulanjiang, M (2023) 'Comprehensive Study of Components and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oil Extracted from Carum carvi L. Seeds', Antibiotics, 12(3), pp. 591. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12030591 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030591 - Mardani, M., Afra, S.M., Tanideh, N., Tadbir, A.A., Modarresi, F., Koohi-Hosseinabadi, O., Iraji, A. and Sepehrimanesh, M (2015) 'Hydroalcoholic extract of Carum carvi L. in oral mucositis: a clinical trial in male golden hamsters', Oral Diseases, 22(1), pp. 39-45. doi:10.1111/odi.12375 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.12375 - Iacobellis, N.S., Lo Cantore, P., Capasso, F. and Senatore, F (2005) 'Antibacterial activity of Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi L. essential oils', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(1), pp. 57-61. doi:10.1021/jf0487351 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0487351 - Trifan, A., Aprotosoaie, A.C., Cioanca, O., Hacianu, M., Jitareanu, A., Gille, E. and Miron, A (2016) 'Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil From Carum Carvi L. Cultivated in North-Eastern Romania', Revista Medico-Chirurgicala, 120(3), pp. 732-736. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Antioxidant%20Activity%20of%20Essential%20Oil%20From%20Carum%20Carvi%20L.%20Cultivated%20in%20North-Eastern%20Romania - Wajidi, M., Vaid, F.H., Rizwani, G.H., Faiyaz, A., Shareef, H., Akram, A. and Ahmed, A (2019) 'Anti-Oxidant and digestive enzymes inhibitory based anti diabetic activity of crude and fractions of Carum carvi L. extracts', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 32(6), pp. 2687-2695. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Anti-Oxidant%20and%20digestive%20enzymes%20inhibitory%20based%20anti%20diabetic%20activity%20of%20crude%20and%20fractions%20of%20Carum%20carvi%20L.%20extracts - Kamaleeswari, M. and Nalini, N (2006) 'Dose-response efficacy of caraway (Carum carvi L.) on tissue lipid peroxidation and antioxidant profile in rat colon carcinogenesis', Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 58(8), pp. 1121-1130. doi:10.1211/jpp.58.8.0014 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1211/jpp.58.8.0014 - Maurya, A., Kumar, S., Singh, B.K., Chaudhari, A.K., Dwivedy, A.K., Prakash, B. and Dubey, N.K (2021) 'Mechanistic investigations on antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of chemically characterised Carum carvi L. essential oil against fungal infestation and aflatoxin contamination of herbal raw materials', Natural Product Research, 36(17), pp. 4569-4574. doi:10.1080/14786419.2021.1994566 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2021.1994566 - Nasiri, S., Shams Ghahfarokhi, M. and Razzaghi Abyaneh, M (2020) 'Effect of Carum carvi essential oil on gene expression and virulence factors in Candida albicans', Current Medical Mycology, 6(2), pp. 30-36. doi:10.18502/CMM.6.2.3628 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.18502/CMM.6.2.3628 - Aldakhil, T., Alshammari, S.O., Siraj, B., El-Aarag, B., Zarina, S., Salehi, D. and Ahmed, A (2023) 'The structural characterization and bioactivity assessment of nonspecific lipid transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1) from caraway (Carum carvi) seeds', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 23(1), pp. 254. doi:10.1186/s12906-023-04083-9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04083-9 - Hajlaoui, H., Arraouadi, S., Noumi, E., Aouadi, K., Adnan, M., Khan, M.A., Kadri, A. and Snoussi, M (2021) 'Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase, Antidiabetic, and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. Essential Oils Alone and in Combination', Molecules, 26(12), pp. 3625. doi:10.3390/molecules26123625 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123625 - European Medicines Agency (2014) 'European Union herbal monograph on Carum carvi L., fructus'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=European%20Union%20herbal%20monograph%20on%20Carum%20carvi%20L.%2C%20fructus - Johri, R.K (2011) 'Cuminum cyminum and Carum carvi: an update', 5(9), pp. 63--72. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.79101 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.79101 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 'Herb Study - Caraway'. Available at: https://ucanr.edu/blog/garden-notes/article/herb-study-caraway Traditional / reference
https://ucanr.edu/blog/garden-notes/article/herb-study-caraway - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 - Grow Forage Cook Ferment 'Poison Hemlock: How to Identify and Potential Look-alikes'. Available at: https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/ Traditional / reference
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/poison-hemlock/
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.