Garden dill
StarAnethum graveolens
Synonyms: Anethum graveolens subsp. sowa, Ferula marathrophylla, Anethum sowa, Anethum graveolens var. copiosum, Selinum anethum, Peucedanum sowa, Anethum graveolens var. parvifolium, Anethum graveolens var. anatolicum, Anethum graveolens subsp. australe, Angelica graveolens, Anethum graveolens var. nanum, Anethum graveolens var. tenerifrons, Anethum graveolens var. submarginatum, Pastinaca anethum, Anethum arvense, Anethum graveolens var. chevallieri, Ferula graveolens, Anethum graveolens var. sowa, Peucedanum anethum, Anethum graveolens var. hortorum, Pastinaca graveolens, Selinum graveolens
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In both Western and Ayurvedic tradition dill seed is a long-established carminative, given as an infusion or in 'dill water' (gripe water) for flatulence, colic, and infant griping, and to aid digestion (Grieve, A Modern Herbal; Khare, 2007). The leaves and seeds are widely used as a culinary herb and spice.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Anethum graveolens, dill, is an aromatic annual (rarely biennial) herb of the carrot family, 40 to 120 cm tall, with a single erect, hollow, finely ridged, blue-green stem. The soft, feathery leaves are several times divided into fine, thread-like segments and clasp the stem at swollen sheathing bases. The tiny yellow flowers are borne in large, flat-topped compound umbels lacking bracts. The fruit is a small, flattened, oval, winged schizocarp (the dill 'seed'), strongly aromatic and ridged, splitting into two halves at maturity. The entire plant has the characteristic warm, sweet-aromatic dill scent owing to its essential oil rich in carvone. Native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, dill is cultivated worldwide as a culinary herb and spice and grows readily on cultivated and disturbed ground.
Active Constituents
(R)-(-)-Carvone
Monoterpene ketoneConcentration: ~30-60% of the seed essential oil
Carvone is the principal odour-active and pharmacologically important constituent, contributing carminative, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and underlying dill's traditional use for colic, flatulence and dyspepsia.
Limonene
Monoterpene hydrocarbonConcentration: Up to ~30-40% of the essential oil
Limonene contributes to the antispasmodic and hypolipidaemic actions and adds antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
alpha-Phellandrene
Monoterpene hydrocarbonConcentration: Up to ~20% of the herb (dill weed) oil
A dominant component of the leaf/herb oil, contributing to aroma and to reported effects on lipid metabolism.
Dillapiole (and apiole-type phenylpropanoids)
Phenylpropanoid etherConcentration: Variable minor constituent of seed oil
Dillapiole contributes antimicrobial and insecticidal/synergist activity; high intakes of apiole-type compounds are the reason concentrated essential oil should not be used in pregnancy.
Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin glycosides, vicenin)
Flavonoid glycosidesConcentration: Present in leaves and seeds
These flavonoids provide much of the antioxidant activity of aqueous/alcoholic dill extracts and may contribute to the observed lipid- and glucose-lowering effects.
Dihydrocarvone / carveol
Monoterpene ketone / alcoholConcentration: Minor essential-oil constituents
Minor oxygenated monoterpenes that add to the aromatic profile and antimicrobial activity of the oil.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Antidiabetic agents (insulin, sulfonylureas, metformin)
Dill has documented hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activity in animal and human studies; combined with glucose-lowering drugs this could produce additive reductions in blood glucose.
Clinical note: Monitor blood glucose when medicinal amounts of dill (extracts/tablets) are taken with antidiabetic therapy; culinary amounts are not a concern.
Lithium
Dill may have mild diuretic activity; theoretically this could alter sodium and water balance and reduce lithium excretion, raising serum lithium.
Clinical note: Patients on lithium should use only culinary amounts and consult their prescriber before using dill supplements.
CYP-metabolised and P-glycoprotein substrate drugs
In Caco-2 cells dill up-regulated CYP1A2, CYP2C19, SULT1A1, NAT2 and the ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) transporter, indicating a potential to change the metabolism and absorption of co-administered drugs.
Clinical note: Clinical relevance is unproven; caution is reasonable with narrow-therapeutic-index drugs when taking concentrated dill preparations.
Preparation Methods
Seed infusion (carminative tea)
Parts: ripe seeds (fruits)
Lightly crush about 1-2 teaspoons of dill seed, pour on a cup of just-boiled water, cover and infuse 10-15 minutes; strained and taken after meals for flatulence, colic and mild dyspepsia. A weak, well-diluted version is the classic 'gripe water' base for infant colic.
Culinary herb
Parts: leaves (dill weed), seeds
Fresh or dried leaves and seed are used to flavour foods; these culinary amounts provide aroma and mild digestive benefit without medicinal risk.
Essential oil
Parts: seeds, whole herb
Steam-distilled dill oil is highly concentrated and used only in tiny, well-diluted amounts. Concentrated essential oil should not be taken internally in pregnancy because of its apiole/dillapiole content.
Clinical Studies
Anethum graveolens and hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial
In hyperlipidaemic patients, dill tablets taken for two months reduced total cholesterol by up to about 18% and triglycerides by about 7%, though the effect on LDL/HDL was limited; supports a modest lipid-lowering role.
The effect of 12 weeks Anethum graveolens (dill) on metabolic markers in patients with metabolic syndrome; a randomized double blind controlled trial
Over 12 weeks dill extract lowered triglycerides within the treatment group, but showed no significant advantage over placebo for waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose or lipid fractions between groups, indicating limited clinical benefit in metabolic syndrome.
Historical Texts
Ebers Papyrus (ancient Egypt)
c. 1550 BCEDioscorides, De Materia Medica (as 'anethon')
1st century CEAyurveda (as shatapushpa / sowa)
Classical Indian traditionReferences
- Mansouri M, Nayebi N, Keshtkar A, Hasani-Ranjbar S, Taheri E, Larijani B. The effect of 12 weeks Anethum graveolens (dill) on metabolic markers in patients with metabolic syndrome; a randomized double blind controlled trial . DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2012) [DOI]
- Goodarzi MT, Khodadadi I, Tavilani H, Abbasi Oshaghi E. The Role of Anethum graveolens L. (Dill) in the Management of Diabetes . Journal of Tropical Medicine (2016) [DOI]
- Udomsak W, Chatuphonprasert W, Jarukamjorn K. Dill Shows Potential for Herb-Drug Interactions via Up-Regulation of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, SULT1A1, NAT2 and ABCB1 in Caco-2 Cells . Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences (2022) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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