Scientific Names: Daucus carota sativus
Common names:
Ayurvedic names: Shikha-mula
Chinese names: hu lo fu
Bangladesh names: Gaajara
Arabic names: جزر (jazar)
Rain Forest names:
Family: Umbelliferae
Approximate Number of Species Known:
Common Parts Used: Leaves, roots
Collection: April to october
Annual/Perennial: Annual or biennial
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Actions: Anthelmintic, carminative, deobstruent, diuretic, stimulant
Known Constituents: Volatile oil and other unidentified constituents, doucorin, potassium, vitamins A and C, carotene
Constituents Explained:
Description: (please note: this is the general characteristics – colour, flavor etc)
Traditional Use:
Clinical Studies:
High consumption of fruits and vegetables has been suggested to provide some protection to smokers who are exposed to an increased risk of numerous cancers and other degenerative diseases.
Carrot is the most important source of dietary β-carotene. A study was to investigated whether carrot juice supplementation to smokers can protect against lymphocyte DNA damage and to compare the effect of supplementation of capsules containing purified β-carotene or a placebo (simple lactose).
The study was conducted in a randomized and placebo-controlled design. After a depletion period of 14 days, 48 smokers were supplemented with either carrot juice, purified β-carotene or placebo.
Each group was supplemented for 8 weeks with approximately 20.49 mg of β-carotene/day and 1.2 mg of vitamin C/day, as carrot juice (300 ml/day) or purified β-carotene (20.49 mg of β-carotene, 1 capsule/day).
Lymphocyte DNA damage was determined using the COMET assay under alkaline conditions and damage was quantified by measuring tail moment (TM), tail length (TL), and% DNA in the tail.
Lymphocyte DNA damage was significantly decreased in the carrot juice group in all three measurements. The group that received purified β-carotene also showed a significant decrease in lymphocyte DNA damage in all three measurements.
However, no significant changes in DNA damage was observed for the placebo group. Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme was not significantly changed after supplementation. Similarly plasma lipid profiles were not different after carrot juice, β-carotene and placebo supplementation.
These results suggest that while the placebo group failed to show any protective effect, carrot juice containing beta-carotene or purified β-carotene itself had great antioxidative potential in preventing damage to lymphocyte DNA in smokers.
References:
Lee HJ, Park YK, Kang MH. “The Effect Of Carrot Juice, Beta-Carotene Supplementation On Lymphocyte DNA Damage, Erythrocyte Antioxidant Enzymes And Plasma Lipid Profile In Korean Smoker.” 2011 December http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22259679
Source material:
Herb Name: Carrot
Other Names: common carrot
Latin Name: Daucus carota sativus
Family: Umbelliferae
Common parts Used: leaves, roots
Carrot is a root vegetable. The taproot is edible part of the vegetable. It is considered native to Europe and Asia. It belongs to the family Umbelliferae.
Carrot is eaten raw as well as cooked. The roots are sweet and juicy. Juice is extracted from the root and considered good with meal. It is also used as a salad. The root is rich in carotene which is a source of vitamin A when eaten. The root is roasted and used as coffee substitute. The leaves are also cooked and used as salad.
Carrots are rich source of carotene, which is converted to “Vitamin A” by liver. It is highly recommended for eye sight, it should be a part of daily use for it. Carrots are also considered as anti cancer. Daily use of carrot is good for skin and overall health. It is good for kidneys and urine flow. In females carrots are good for stimulating menstruation.