Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota-A review

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis showed that the root of Daucus carota contained alkaloids, carbohydrates, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, phenols, essential oil, terpenoid and coumarin. The nutritional analysis of carrot juice showed that the juice contained: protein 1.067 ± 0.058%, crude fat 0.367 ± 0.089%, crude fibre 1.167 ± 0.153%, carbohydrates 6.100 ± 0.346%, many vitamins and minerals. The pharmacological studies revealed that the plant possessed cytotoxic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, smooth muscle relaxant, hypotensive effect and decrease intraocular pressure, gastro-protective, nephro-protective, hepato-protective, cardio-protective antidepressant memory enhancement, anti-inflammatory, reproductive, wound healing and hear induction and many other effects. The current review highlights the chemical constituents, nutritional and pharmacological effects of Daucus carota.

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IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy www.iosrphr.org
(e)-ISSN: 2250-3013, (p)-ISSN: 2319-4219
Volume 7, Issue 2 Version. 1 (Feb 2017), PP. 72-88
72
Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A
review
Prof Dr Ali Esmail Al-Snafi
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Thi qar University, Iraq.
Abstract:- Phytochemical analysis showed that the root of Daucus carota contained alkaloids, carbohydrates,
chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, phenols, essential oil, terpenoid and coumarin. The nutritional analysis of carrot
juice showed that the juice contained: protein 1.067 ± 0.058%, crude fat 0.367 ± 0.089%, crude fibre 1.167 ±
0.153%, carbohydrates 6.100 ± 0.346%, many vitamins and minerals. The pharmacological studies revealed
that the plant possessed cytotoxic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, smooth muscle relaxant, hypotensive
effect and decrease intraocular pressure, gastro-protective, nephro-protective, hepato-protective, cardio-
protective antidepressant memory enhancement, anti-inflammatory, reproductive, wound healing and hear
induction and many other effects. The current review highlights the chemical constituents, nutritional and
pharmacological effects of Daucus carota.
Keywords: constituents, nutritional, therapeutic, pharmacology Daucus carota.
I. INTRODUCTION:
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the world population, presently use herbal
medicine for some aspect of primary health care [1].Plant showed nutritional and therapeutic benefits including
antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, hypolipidemic, cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, immunological,
anti-inflammatory, analgesic antipyretic and many other pharmacological effects [2-60]. Phytochemical analysis
showed that the root of Daucus carota contained alkaloids, carbohydrates, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, phenols,
essential oil, terpenoid and coumarin. The nutritional analysis of carrot juice showed that the juice contained:
protein 1.067 ± 0.058%, crude fat 0.367 ± 0.089%, crude fibre 1.167 ± 0.153%, carbohydrates 6.100 ± 0.346%,
many vitamins and minerals. The pharmacological studies revealed that the plant possessed cytotoxic, antioxidant,
antidiabetic, antimicrobial, smooth muscle relaxant, hypotensive effect and decrease intraocular pressure, gastro-
protective, nephro-protective, hepato-protective, cardio-protective antidepressant memory enhancement, anti-
inflammatory, reproductive, wound healing and hear induction and many other effects. The current review will
highlight the chemical constituents, nutritional and pharmacological effects of Daucus carota.
II. SYNONYMS:
Carota sylvestris (Mill.) Rupr., Caucalis carnosa Roth, Caucalis carota (L.) Crantz, Caucalis daucus Crantz,
Caucalis glabra Forssk.,Daucus allionii Link,Daucus australis Kotov,Daucus blanchei Reut., , Daucus carota var.
brachycaulos Reduron, Daucus carota f. epurpuratus Farw., Daucus carota f. fischeri Moldenke,
Daucus carota f. goodmanii Moldenke,Daucus carota subsp. hispidus Masclef, Daucus carota var.
pseudocarota (Rouy & E.G.Camus) Reduron, Daucus carota f. roseus Millsp., Daucus carota f. roseus Farw.,
Daucus communis Rouy & E. G. Camus, Daucus communis var. pseudocarota Rouy & E. G. Camus, Daucus
esculentus Salisb., Daucus exiguus Steud., Daucus gingidium Georgi, Daucus glaber Opiz ex Celak.,
Daucus heterophylus Raf., Daucus kotovii M. Hiroe, Daucus levis Raf., Daucus marcidus Timb.-Lagr.,
Daucus maritimus With., Daucus montanus Schmidt ex Nyman, Daucus neglectus Lowe, Daucus officinalis
Gueldenst. ex Ledeb., Daucus polygamus Jacq. ex Nyman, Daucus scariosus Raf., Daucus sciadophylus Raf.,
Daucus strigosus Raf., Daucus sylvestris Mill., Daucus vulgaris Neck., Tiricta daucoides Raf [61-62].
III. TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Equisetopsida, Subclass: Magnoliidae; Superorder:
Asteranae, Order: Apiales, Family: Apiaceae, Genus: Daucus, Species: Daucus carota [61-63].
IV. COMMON NAMES:
Arabic: gazar; Chinese: hu luo bo; English: carrot; French : carotte; German: Karotte, Möhre , Mohrrübe;
India: gajar ; Italian: carota; Japanese: ninjin; Korean: danggeun, hongdangmu; Portuguese: cenoura;
Spanish: zanahoria [62].

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
73
Distribution:
Carrot is the one of the major vegetable crops cultivated worldwide. The domesticated types are divided
into two groups: the Eastern or Asian carrots (var. atrorubens), with mainly purple and yellow roots; and the
Western carrots (var. sativus) with mainly orange roots. Carrots were thought to be domesticated in Afghanistan
as the primary centre of diversity and they were spread over Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean area, and the
origin of western cultivated carrots were thought to be in the Asia Minor Centre, primarily Turkey [63]. It is now
distributed in Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia); Asia ( Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria,
Turkey); Europe (Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation-European part, Ukraine, Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia,
Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Portugal, Spain) [62].
Description:
The stems are erect and branched, generally about 2, feet high, tough and furrowed. Both stems and
leaves are more or less clothed with stout, coarse hairs. The leaves are very finely divided, the lowest leaves
considerably larger than the upper; their arrangement on the stem is alternate, and all the leaves embrace the stem
with the sheathing base. The blossoms are densely clustered together in terminal umbels, or flattened heads, in
which the flower-bearing stalks of the head all arise from one point in rays, each ray dividing to form a secondary
umbel, or umbellule of white flowers, the outer ones of which are irregular and larger than the others. The flowers
themselves are very small, but from their whiteness and number, they form a conspicuous head, nearly flat while
in bloom, or slightly convex, as the seeds ripen, the umbels contract, the outer rays, which are to begin with 1 to 2
inches long, lengthening and curving inwards, so that the head forms a hollow cup hence one of the old popular
names for the plant (Bird's Nest). The fruit is slightly flattened, with numerous bristles arranged in five rows. The
ring of finely-divided and leaf-like bracts at the point where the umbel springs is a noticeable feature [64].
Traditional uses:
Daucus carota was cultivated for the enlarged fleshy taproot, eaten as a raw vegetable or cooked in many
dishes. Eaten sliced, diced, cut up, or shoe-stringed, carrots were used in many mixed vegetable combinations.
They were sold in bunches, or canned, frozen, or dehydrated. They may be baked, sauteed, pickled, and glazed, or
served in combination with meats, in stews, roasts, soups, meat loaf or curries. Roasted carrot was used as coffee
substitutes. Essential oil was used to flavor liqueurs and perfumes. Seeds were aromatic, carminative, diuretic,
emmenagogue, stimulant, and were used for dropsy, chronic dysentery, kidney ailments, worms, as aphrodisiac,
nervine tonic, and for uterine pain. Roots were refrigerant and used in infusion for threadworm, as diuretic and
eliminating uric acid [65-67]. The ethnobotanical uses of this species also included applications in the treatment of
cough, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, malaria, tumors, as an antiseptic, abortifacient, aphrodisiac, carminative,
stimulant, stomachic and tonic [68]. Daucus carota was used by the Ancient Egyptians as a stimulant, carminative,
diuretic, anthelmintic and as a decoction for infantile diarrhea [69].
Parts used: Roots, leaves and seeds [70].
Physicochemical characteristics:
The physicochemical investigation of carrot seed oil revealed: relative density (d2020): 0.9811±0.0013,
refractive index (n20D): 1.473±0.004, acidity (oleic,%): 5.60±1.13, peroxide value (meq/kg): 16.0±2.1,
saponification number 143.6±12.7, unsaponifiable matter: (g/kg) 9.3±1.2 [71]. The physical and chemical
properties of carrot seed (dry matter basis) showed that: moisture %: 6.41±0.87, crude protein %: 25.19±1.13,
crude oil %: 7.89±0.68, crude fibre %: 31.99±2.21, ash %: 11.52±0.14, Total carbohydrate: %: 52.3±2.13, HCl
insoluble ash %: 0.0056±0.0012, weight of 1000 seeds/ g: 2.68±0.18, and essential oil yield %: 1.01±0.02 [72].
Chemical constituents:
The nutritional analysis of carrot juice showed that the juice contained: moisture 91.100% ± 0.265,
protein 1.067 ± 0.058%, ether extracts (crude fat) 0.367 ± 0.089%, ash 1.333 ± 0.153%, crude fibre 1.167 ±
0.153%, carbohydrates 6.100 ± 0.346%, specific gravity 1.069 ± 0.003, pH 6.233 ± 0.058, ascorbic acid
(mg/100g) 16.667 ± 1.332 , Ca++ (mg/100g) 55.000 ± 0.000, Fe++ (mg/100g) 1.667 ± 0.153, PO4 (mg/100g) 44.333
± 1.155, thiamine (mg/100g) 0.057 ± 0.006, niacin (mg/100mg) 0.300 ± 0.000, riboflavin 0.100 ± 0.000
(mg/100g), β-carotene 2730 ± 43.589, colour (out of 10) 2.000 ± 0.000 and vitamin A 2805 ± 6.532. The
mineral analysis of carrot seed cultivated in Turkey showed that it contained (dry matter basis) (mg/kg): Al:
23.31±2.17, B: 0.306±0.073, Ca: 164.11±31.02, Cr: 0.086±0.011, Cu: 0.06±0.01, Fe: 8.21±0.93, K: 180.55±37.36,
Mg: 15.48±1.61, Mn: 0.403±0.083, Na: 24.35±4.39, Ni: 0.059±0.008, P: 75.40±19.28, Se: 0.005±0.001, V:
0.184±0.038 and Zn: 0.281±0.061 [71-73].Phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract of Daucus carota roots

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
74
extracts showed that it contained alkaloids, carbohydrates, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoid and
coumarin [74]. Flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, rutin or quercetin 3-rutinoside) and flavones (apigenin, luteolin
and chrysin) were identified from different parts of carrot [75-77]. Furanocoumarin, 8-Methoxypsoralen and 5-
methoxypsoralen (0 .01-0.02 pg/g fresh weight) were isolated from the fresh plant. Their concentrations were
increased in the diseased plant [78].Daucus carota essential oil yields 3% for seeds and 2.1% for leaves. A total of
48 compounds were identified in Daucus carota essential oil of leaves, 46 in seeds essential oil. The essential oil
from seeds was predominantly composed of oxygenated monoterpens (66.08 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpens
(16.41%). The main components were geranyl acetate (52.45%), cedrone S (14.04%), and asarone (11.39% ).
The oil from leaves is mainly composed of hydrocarbon monoterpenes (64.59%) and hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes
(22.18%), α-pinene (27.44%), sabinene (25.34%), germacrene D (16.33%) [79]. Mojaba et al., mentioned that
the leaves of carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffman.) Arcang. from Iran gave 0.2 % (v/w) essential
oil. Ninety-one compounds were identified in the essential oil . The main class of the compounds was
monoterpenes (30.0 %), sesquiterpenes (27.8 %) and phenyl propanes (26.4 %). The major constituents were trans-
anethole (23.5 %) and myrcene (14.5 %) [80].The changes occurring in the essential oil yield and chemical
composition of Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang. during flowering and fruiting process were
studied. The essential oil yield varied from 0.7% to 1.8% (v/w) during umbel ontogeny. The resulted essential oils
contained 34 constituents, forming 94.5–97.9% of the total compositions. The essential oil composition was
characterized by high proportions of monoterpenoids (35.9–81.3%) and sesquiterpenoids (15.1–62.0%). Major
constituents of the essential oils were carotol (10.2–58.5%), α-pinene (21.2–41.2%), myrcene (6.4–14.1%),
limonene (4.4–12.7%), and sabinene (0.2–5.3%). The results obtained were of significance for determining the
most favorable time for harvesting carrot umbels for better yield of quality essential oil [81].The analysis of the
essential oil of carrot cultivated in Turkey seed and edible seed oil showed that they contained 34 and 14
components, respectively. The major constituents of seed essential oil were carotol (66.78%), daucene (8.74%),
(Z,Z)-α-farnesene (5.86%), germacrene D (2.34%), trans-α-bergamotene (2.41%), β-selinene (2.20%), β-
bisabolene (1.90%), bicyclogermacrene (1.87%) and β-caryophyllene (1.10%) [72].
In studying the essential oils of the fruits of Daucus carota ssp. maximus, it revealed the presence of at
least 19 components. The fruit essential oil consisted chiefly of phenylpropanoids (56.84%) and sesquiterpene
hydrocarbons (40.79%), accompanied by relatively much smaller amounts of monoterpenes (1.33%) and
oxygenated sesquiterpenes (1.04%). The leaf and stem oils revealed the presence of at least 40 (leaves) and 21
(stems) components. The leaf essential oil consisted chiefly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene
hydrocarbons 51.20% and 25.25% of the oil composition respectively, as well as relatively smaller amounts of
monoterpene hydrocarbons (6.31%), n-alkanes (4.55%), monoterpene alcohols (4.19%) and a straight chain
aldehyde (3.22%). The stem oil was dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (80.05%) accompanied by relatively
small amounts of monoterpenes (10.07%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (6.91%) [82].
The fatty acid composition of carrot seed oil cultivated in Turkey showed that it contained (mg/100g): palmitic:
10.01±0.13, palmitoleic: 0.64±0.02, stearic: 2.41±0.06, oleic: 0.17±0.01, linoleic: 11.82±1.17, petroselinic:
59.35±3.81, vaccenic: 0.55±0.01and arachidic: 0.81±0.03 [72].The essential oils of Daucus carota seeds from ten
wild populations spread over northern Tunisia were characterized by a predominance of sesquiterpene
hydrocarbons in most samples (22.63-89.93% of the total oil composition). The main volatile compounds
identified were β-bisabolene (mean content of 39.33%), sabinene (8.53%), geranyl acetate (7.12%), and elemicin
(6.26%). The volatile composition varied significantly across the populations, even for oils of populations
harvested in similar areas [83]. The essential oil of the flowering and mature umbels with seeds of wild Daucus
carota L. subsp carota from two different sites in Tunisia, contained: eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol (8.2 - 8.5%), carotol
(3.5 - 5.2%), sabinene (12.0 -14.5%), a-selinene (7.4 - 8.6) and 11-alpha-(H)-himachal-4-en-1-beta-ol (12.7 -
17.4%), whereas the oils from Tunis were predominantly composed of elemicin (31.5 - 35.3%) and carotol (48.0 -
55.7%) as the main components [84]. The essential oil of Daucus carota subsp carota from Portugal, composed
of hydrocarbon monoterpenes (46.6%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (29.5%), with geranyl acetate (29.0%).α-
pinene (27.2%) and 11αH-himachal-4-en-1β-ol (9.2%), being the main components [85].The chemical
composition of the essential oils from the fruits of Daucus carota var. sativus (yellow carrot) and var. boissieri
(red carrot) was determined using GC/FID and GC/MS. 29 and 32 compounds were identified accounting for
96.58 and 96.72 % of the total detected components in the hydrodistilled yellow and red carrot oils, respectively.
Yellow carrot fruit essential oil had a lower percentage of monoterpenes representing 2.24% and containing
mainly β-pinene (0.52%) and α-limonene (0.43%) and oxyegenated monterpenes represented 0.66% containing
mainly linalool (0.34%). Red carrot fruit essential oil had higher percentage of monoterpenes representing 3.92%
and containing mainly β-pinene (1.04%) and p-cymene (1.01%) and didn't contain any oxygenated monoterpenes.
On the other hand, sesquiterpenes were presented in higher percentage in yellow carrot fruit essential oil,
containing mainly carotol (66.7%), β-bisabolene (3.91%), trans-α-bergamotene (3.41%), germacrene (2.34%) and
α-curcumene (2.2%). Almost the same percentage and different pattern can be noticed for the red carrot fruit

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
75
essential oil [carotol (67.71%), β-bisabolene (7.66%), trans-β-caryophyllene (4.79%) and trans-α-asarone
(2.33%)]. Only n-nonanal as a non terpene compound was present in yellow carrot fruit essential oil (0.05%) [86].
Phytochemical investigation of the fruits of Daucus carota resulted in the isolation of a new sesquiterpene named
as daucucarotol. It was the first example for a natural eudesmane sesquiterpene with a hydroxymethyl group
located at a methine carbon rater than a usual quaternary carbon in the two fused six-membered ring systems [87].
Daucane-type sesquiterpenes such as as trans-dauc-8-ene-4b-ol, trans-dauca-8,11-diene, dauca-5,8-diene, acora-
4,9-diene, acora-4,10-diene, carotol, daucol and daucucarotol were isolated from Daucus carota [78, 87-89].
Ahmed et al., isolated four sesquiterpenes daucane esters, one polyacetylene, one sesquiterpene coumarin, and
sitosterol glucoside from the roots of the wild Daucus carota ssp carota [90].Extracts of fresh roots and foliage of
the garden carrot (Daucus carota) were analyzed for linear furocoumarins (psoralens) compared with standard
psoralen, xanthotoxin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, heraclenin, and oxypeucedanin. Results showed that garden
carrot (Daucus carota) does not contain these photosensitizing, photomutagenic, and photocarcinogenic chemicals
or, if present, they occur at very low levels (0.5 ppm) [91-92]. Carotenoids were responsible for the yellow,
orange, and red colors of carrots, while anthocyanins, a class of polyphenolic compounds, were responsible for the
color of purple carrots. The main anthocyanins detected in two different black carrots (Daucus carota L. ssp.
sativus var. atrorubens Alef L. ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) cultivars, associated with Antonina and Purple
Haze varieties, from Cuevas Bajas (Málaga, Spain), were found to correspond to five cyanidin-based
anthocyanins: cyanidin 3- xylosylglucosylgalactoside, cyanidin 3-xylosylgalactoside and the sinapic, ferulic and
coumaric acids derivative of cyanidin 3-xylosylglucosylgalactoside. The anthocyanins present in the black carrots
were essentially acylated and their levels were found to correspond to 25 and 50% of the total phenolic content for
the purple Haze and Antonina varieties, respectively [93].However, black carrot contained anthocyanin, the
content of monomeric anthocyanins, values ranged between 1.5 and 17.7 mg/100 g fresh weight, the major
anthocyanins isolated from black carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) was Cyanidin 3-
xylosyl(glucosyl)galactosides acylated, with sinapic acid, ferulic acid, and coumaric acid. Cyanidin 3-xylosyl
(sinapoyl glucosyl) galactoside was found to exhibit a lower visual detection threshold and a higher pH stability
than cyanidin 3-xylosyl (feruloyl glucosyl) galactoside and cyanidin 3-xylosyl (coumaroyl glucosyl) galactoside
[94]. Carrot roots were rich in carotenoids. Six carotenes (α-, β-, γ -,and δ -carotenes, β-zeacarotene, and lycopene)
were separated from typical and dark orange carrots. α- and β-carotene represented the major carotenoids
accounting for 13- 40% and 45-80% of the carotenoids in orange carrots [95-96].Total phenolics of carrot varaities
varied among the cultivars and ranged from 17.9 to 97.9 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g fresh weight [94].
Twelve polyphenolic compounds were isolated from 70 and 40% ethanolic extracts of wild Daucus carota
included myricetin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, apigenin, rutin, catechin, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, 3-
hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxybenzaldehyde, caffeic acid and cinnamic acid. Rutin represented the major
component in both extracts [97].The total phenol contents of leaves extract of Algerian wild carrot Daucus carota
was (13.83 mg GAE/g) and of the seeds extract was (7.08 mg GAE/g) [79].Average content of total polyphenols
(mg/kg) in many carrot varieties was 81.25 ± 13.11- 113.69 ± 11.57 mg/kg, ß-carotenes (mg/kg) 24.58 ± 2.38-
124.28 ± 3.54 and the average values of antioxidant activity (% inhibition) in carrot 6.88 ± 0.92- 9.83 ± 0.62 [98].
Carrot roots of orange, red, yellow, white and purple color were freeze-dried and analyzed for phenolic content by
Folin-Ciocalteu assay and UV/Vis assay. Carrots developing purple roots possessed on average 9 times more
phenolics than roots of other colors. Furthermore, they were rich in anthocyanins that caused very high antiradical
activity. Red carrots showed higher antioxidant activity than orange, yellow and white carrots and in the season of
lower rainfall they accumulated higher amounts of phenolic compounds. Carrots of Asian origin belonging to
Eastern gene pool were more often purple or red and richer in phenolics and had higher antiradical activity than
those from the Western gene pool with orange roots [99].Three flavones included luteolin, luteolin 3'-O-beta-D-
glucopyranoside and luteolin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the methanol extract of Daucus
carota seeds [68].
Pharmacological effects:
Cytotoxic effects:
The effect of Daucus carota fraction, pentane/diethyl ether (50:50), on was investigated in lung, skin,
breast and glioblastoma cancer cell motility and invasion. A pronounced decrease in cancer cell motility was
observed in the 4 cell lines. The treatment also led to a decrease in cancer cell invasion and an increased cell
adhesion. Additionally, the Daucus carota fraction decreased the activation of the ρ-GTPases Rac and CDC42, a
finding which may partially explain the decrease in cell motility [100]. The cytotoxic effect of Daucus carota
oil extract (DCOE) was studied in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. All the AML cell lines tested were
sensitive to the extract while peripheral mononuclear cells were not. It appeared that it produced effect via
increase in cells positive for annexinV and for active caspases, indicating that DCOE induced apoptotic cell death
in AML. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway decreased sensitivity of AML cells to DCOE, indicating that
cytotoxicity may be dependent on its activity. The authors concluded that, DCOE induced selective apoptosis in

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
76
AML cells, possibly through a MAPK-dependent mechanism [101].The chemopreventive effects of oil extract
from Daucus carota umbels was investigated on 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin
papilloma in mice. The extract was administered to animals via gavage (0.02 ml of 100% oil), intraperitoneal
(0.3 ml of 2% oil), and topical (0.2 ml of 5, 50, and 100% oil) routes for 20 weeks. Tumor appearance, incidence,
yield, and volume were compared with those of a non-treated control group. Topical 100% treatment delayed
tumor appearance, and inhibited tumor incidence and yield by 40 and 89%, respectively. Topical 50% treatment
inhibited tumor incidence and yield by 30 and 83%, respectively, whereas the 5% treatment inhibited tumor yield
by 36%. Tumor volume was decreased by 99, 91, and 70% following topical treatments with 100, 50, and 5% oil,
respectively. Intraperitoneal treatment inhibited tumor yield by 43%, and decreased tumor volume by 85%,
whereas gavage treatment showed minimal effects. Both intraperitoneal and topical treatment decreased infiltration
and hyperplasia with an increase in the level of hyperkeratosis [102].
The major flavonoids isolated from the methanol extract of Daucus carota seeds (luteolin, luteolin 3'-O-
beta-D-glucopyranoside and luteolin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) were tested for cytotoxicity towards brine
shrimp. The LD50 value of luteolin was 5.3 x 10-2 mg/ml, and that of its 3'-O-glucoside and 4'-O-glucoside were >
1.0 mg/ml [68].Falcarinol from carrots at concentrations above 10 μM decreased cell proliferation of CaCo -2
cells after 48 and 72 h [103].The effects of five fractions from carrot juice extract (CJE) [three polyacetylenes
(falcarinol, falcarindiol and falcarindiol-3-acetate) and two carotenoids (beta-carotene and lutein)] were studied in
human lymphoid leukaemia cell lines. Treatment of all three lymphoid leukaemia cell lines with the fraction from
carrot extracts contained polyacetylenes and carotenoids showed that they were significantly cytotoxic.
Treatments with purified polyacetylenes also induced apoptosis in a dose and time responsive manner. Falcarinol
and falcarindiol-3-acetate isolated from Daucus carota were more cytotoxic than falcarindiol. In contrast, the
carotenoids showed no significant effect on either apoptosis or cell proliferation in all investigated cells [104].
The effect of falcarinol was studied in the development of azoxymethane induced colon preneoplastic lesions in
male rats. Feeding of rats with freeze-dried carrots containing 35 μg falcarinol per gram, or the same dose of
falcarinol, delayed the development of tumours and aberrant crypt foci following 18 weeks [105].
The effect of carrot juice extracts was studied in myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cell lines together with
normal hematopoietic stem cells. Leukemia cell lines and nontumor control cells were treated with carrot juice
extracts for up to 72 hours in vitro. Induction of apoptosis was investigated by using annexin V/propidium iodide
staining followed by flow cytometric analysis, the results were confirmed by using 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
morphology. Effects on cellular proliferation were investigated via cell cycle analysis and cell counts. Treatment
of leukemia cell lines with carrot juice extract induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest. Lymphoid cell lines
were affected to a greater extent than were myeloid cell lines, while, normal hematopoietic stem cells were less
sensitive than cancer cell lines [106]. The anticancer effect of Daucus carota oil extract fractions was studied on
the human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. By using of WST assay, the pentane
fraction (F1) and 1:1 pentane:diethyl ether fraction (F2) possessed the highest cytotoxicity against both cell lines.
Flow cytometric analysis revealed that both fractions induced the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase and
increased apoptotic cell death and chromatin condensation. The increase in apoptosis in response to treatment was
also apparent in the increase in BAX and the decrease in Bcl-2 levels as well as the proteolytic cleavage of both
caspase-3 and PARP as revealed by Western blot. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with either fraction also
significantly reduced the level of phosphorylated Erk but did not show any effect on phosphorylated Akt [107].
The anticancer activity of the pentane fraction (F1) and the 1:1 pentane:diethyl ether fraction (F2) of the Daucus
carota oil extract was evaluated against human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2). Treatment of
cells with various concentrations of F1 or F2 fractions produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation.
Flow cytometric analysis indicated that both fractions induced sub-G1 phase accumulation and increased apoptotic
cell death. Western blot revealed the activation of caspase-3, PARP cleavage, and a considerable increase in Bax
and p53 levels, and a decrease in Bcl-2 level. Treatment of HT-29 cells with either fraction markedly decreased the
levels of both phosphorylated Erk and Akt [108]. The in vitro anticancer activity of Daucus carota oil extract was
evaluated on cell lines using the trypan blue exclusion method and the WST-1 cell proliferation assay. The
anticancer activity of the oil extract was evaluated against human colon (HT-29, Caco-2) and breast (MCF-7,
MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines. Oil extract caused significant increase in cell death and decrease in cell
proliferation. The effects of the oil on cell lines were time and dose-dependent [109].In cytotoxic investigation of
the essential oils from the fruits of Daucus carota var. sativus (yellow carrot) and var. boissieri (red carrot), a
highest cytotoxic activity was observed against HepG-2 cell with IC50 values ranging from 163-172 μg/ml for both
oils [86].
Antioxidant effect:
The effects of a 3-week supplementation of the diet with carrot (15% dry matter) in antioxidant status was
studied in rats. Carrot consumption improved the antioxidant status. It significantly decreased the urinary excretion
of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced the TBARS levels in heart, increased the vitamin E

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
77
plasmatic level and tended to increase the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as compared to the controls.
The carrot diet provided carotenoid antioxidants: 5.1 mg β-carotene, 1.6 mg α-carotene and 0.25mg lutein per 100
g diet. The three carotenoids were detected in the plasma of the rats fed the carrot diet at 125, 41, 43 nmol/l
concentrations respectively. β-Carotene was also detected in liver and heart [110].Antioxidants and antioxidant
capacity of seven colored carrots were studied. Antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions
were determined using 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Five anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and four carotenoids were
quantified by HPLC. Anthocyanins were the major antioxidants in purple-yellow and purple-orange carrots, and
chlorogenic acid was the major antioxidant in all carrots. Both the DPPH and ABTS assays showed that the
hydrophilic extract had higher antioxidant capacity than the hydrophobic extract. Purple-yellow carrots had the
highest antioxidant capacity, followed by purple-orange carrots, and the other carrots did not significantly differ
[111]. The flavones isolated from the methanol extract of Daucus carota seeds (luteolin, luteolin 3'-O-beta-D-
glucopyranoside and luteolin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) were studied for antioxidant effects. Among these
three flavones, luteolin showed the highest degree of free radical scavenging activity (RC50 = 4.3 x 10-4 mg/ml) in
the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay [68]. Digested purple carrot extract exhibited intracellular ROS-
inhibitory capacity, with 1mg/ml showing the ROS clearance of 18.4%. A 20.7% reduction in oxidative DNA
damage due to colon mucosa cells' treatment with digested purple carrot extract was observed [112]. The in vitro
antioxidant activity of Daucus carota oil extract (DCOE) was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free
radical scavenging assay (DPPH), ferrous ion chelating assay (FIC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power
assay (FRAP). DCOE exhibited antioxidant activity in all assays. The FRAP value was 164 ± 5.5 µmol for FeSO 4
/g, and the IC50 values for DPPH and FIC assays were 2.1 ± 0.03 mg/ml and 0.43 ± 0.02 mg/ml, respectively [109].
The antioxidant activity of the essential oils from the fruits of Daucus carota var. sativus (yellow carrot) and var.
boissieri (red carrot) was investigated using DPPH. Both oils were able to reduce DPPH and to prevent the
degradation of the deoxyribose sugar in a concentration dependent manner. Carrot oils showed promising
scavenging activity of DPPH with an IC50 of 12.71 mg/ml and 14.15 mg/ml for the yellow and red carrot oils,
respectively [86].The antioxidant activity of wild Daucus carota extracts seed (70% and 40% ethanol) was
investigated. The results indicated that the 70% ethanolic extract has a higher total phenol and flavonoid content
than 40% ethanolic extract. The antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract was 86.88 % ± 3.018, whereas, the
scavenging activity of 40% ethanolic extract was 78.72% ± 3.276 [97]. The n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol
extracts of leaves of Daucus carota were examined for free radical scavenger activity using DPPH method. The
compounds possessed antioxidant activity in the n-hexane extract was lutein. The compound at concentration of
0.616, 1.025, and 2.05 ppm had antioxidant activities of 0.94 ± 0.05, 18.53 ± 0.15 and 49.07 ± 0.86%, respectively
[113]. The antioxidant features of the black carrot extracts was appeared significantly higher than that of orange
carrots, the recorded reducing capacity of two black carrots extracts was (86.4 ± 8.0 and 182.0 ± 27 μM TE/100
g fw) and the radical scavenging ability was (17.6 ± 9.0 and 240.0 ± 54.0 μM TE/100 g fw) [93].
High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats developed hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, increased cardiac stiffness,
endothelial dysfunction, impaired glucose tolerance, increased abdominal fat deposition, altered plasma lipid
profile, liver fibrosis and increased plasma liver enzymes together with increased plasma markers of oxidative
stress and inflammation as well as increased inflammatory cell infiltration. Purple carrot juice reversed all these
parameters. Anthocyanins were responsible for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of purple carrot
juice and improvement of glucose tolerance and maintaining cardiovascular and hepatic structure and function,
while, β-carotene did not reduce oxidative stress, cardiac stiffness or hepatic fat deposition [114].
CNS effects:
The effects of ethanolic extract of Daucus carota seeds on cognitive functions, total serum cholesterol
levels and brain cholinesterase activity were studied in mice. The ethanolic extract of Daucus carota seeds (DCE)
was administered orally in three doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) for seven successive days to different groups of
young and aged mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance apparatus was used as exteroceptive behavioral
models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine- and ageing-induced amnesia were used as interoceptive
behavioral models. DCE (200, 400 mg/kg, po) showed significant improvement in memory scores of young and
aged mice. The extent of memory improvement evoked by DCE was 23% at the dose of 200 mg/kg and 35% at the
dose of 400 mg/kg in young mice using elevated plus maze. Significant improvements in memory scores were
observed with the using passive avoidance apparatus and aged mice. DCE also reversed the amnesia induced by
scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, ip) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, ip). Daucus carota extract (200, 400 mg/kg, po) significantly
reduced the brain acetylcholinesterase activity and cholesterol levels in young and aged mice. The extent of
inhibition of brain cholinesterase activity evoked by DCE at the dose of 400 mg/kg was 22% in young and 19% in
aged mice. There was a remarkable reduction in total cholesterol level as well, to the extent of 23% in young and
21% in aged animals with this dose of DCE [115]. The effects of Daucus carota seeds was evaluated in memory in
rats. The ethanolic extract of Daucus carota (DCE) was administered orally in three doses (100, 200 and 400

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
78
mg/kg) for seven successive days to different groups of young and aged rats. Elevated plus-maze, Hebb-Williams
maze and hexagonal swimming pool were used as exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-
, scopolamine- and aging-induced amnesia were used as interoceptive behavioral models. DCE (200 and 400
mg/kg, po) induced significant improvement in memory of young and aged rats in elevated plus maze, Hebb
Williams maze and hexagonal swimming pool. It also reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg,
ip) and diazepam (1mg/kg, ip). The results clearly indicated that Daucus carota seeds is a promising therapy to
improve memory especially in management of Alzheimer patients [116].The antidepressant potential of ethanol
root extract of Dacus carota (DC) was studied in different animal models, forced swim test (FST), tail suspension
test (TST), apomorphine induced hypothermia (AIH), reserpine induced hypothermia (RIH), 5-HTP potentiation
of head twitches (HTPPH) in mice. Fluoxetine (25 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug in FST, TST and HTPPH
models and desipramine (20 mg/kg) as a standard drug in AIH and RIH models. The antidepressant activity of DC
(400 mg/kg) was comparable to that of standard drugs [117]. The seeds contained choline, and have been reported
to inhibit brain cholinesterase activity, with a possibility to elevate the brain acetylcholine levels via increased
synthesis of acetylcholine, which beneficial in cognitive dysfunctions [118-119].
Antimicrobial effects:
Four sesquiterpenes daucane esters, one polyacetylene, one sesquiterpene coumarin, and sitosterol
glucoside isolated from the roots of the wild Daucus carota ssp carota, showed a range of low antibacterial
activities against four Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptomyces scabies, Bacillus subtilus and Bacillus
cereus) and two Gram negative species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) as well as antifungal
against Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger [90].The flavones isolated from the methanol extract of
Daucus carota seeds (luteolin, luteolin 3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and luteolin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside)
were evaluated for antibacterial effects. Both luteolin and its 4'-O-glucoside demonstrated bactericidal activity
against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, MIC = 5.0 x 10-2 - 1.0 x 10-1 mg/ml). Luteolin also
demonstrated antibactericidal activity against Bacillus cereus and Citrobacter freundii (MIC = 5.0 x 10-2 mg/ml).
Luteolin 3'-O-glucoside showed bactericidal activity against Bacillus cereus and Lactobacillus plantarum (MIC =
2.5 x 10-1 mg/ml and 5 x 10-1 mg/ ml, respectively) [68].The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of the
flowering and mature umbels with seeds of wild Daucus carota L. subsp. carota from two different sites in
Tunisia, were assayed by using the broth dilution method on Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Staphylococcus
aureus ATCC 43300, and clinical strains of Candida albicans and C. tropicalis 1011 RM. The MIC values obtained
were all > 2.5% (v/v) [84].The in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils of Daucus carota seeds was
evaluated, using the disk-diffusion method, against one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-
negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium), and a pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans). All
tested essential oils exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities against the assayed microorganisms [83].The
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Daucus carota subsp carota from Portugal was evaluated against
several Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, yeasts, dermatophytes, and Aspergillus strains. The results
showed a significant activity towards Gram positive bacteria (MIC = 0.32–0.64 µl/ml), Cryptococcus neoformans
(0.16 µl/ml), and dermatophytes (0.32–0.64 µl/ml). The inhibition of the germ tube formation and the effect of the
oil on Candida albicans biofilms were also unveiled. The oil inhibited more than 50% of filamentation at
concentrations as low as 0.04 µl/ml (MIC/128) and decreased both biofilm mass and cell viability [85]. The
antimicrobial effect of wild Daucus carota extracts seed (70% and 40% ethanol) were examined against Gram
positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Staphylococcus hyicus – isolated from the soil, Micrococcus
luteus – isolated from soil, criptogamic culture of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633), Gram negative (Pseudomonas
aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Salmonella Abony CIP- 8039,and Acinetobacter
johnsonii – isolated from the environment, Moellerella wisconsensis – isolated from the environment) and fungi
(Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida utilis Lia-01, Saccharomyces cerevisia ATCC 9763 and Aspergillus
brasiliensis ATCC 16404). The extracts were active against bacteria, the MIC against 2 Gram positive bacteria
was 1.56-3.125 mg/ml and against 3 strains of Gram negative bacteria was 3.125-12.50 mg/ml, whereas against 1
strain of yeast was 3.125-6.25 mg/ml [97]. The essential oil of wild Daucus carota aerial parts at the end of the
flowering stage (DCEO) inhibited the growth of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter
lari strains, including one multidrug resistant Campylobacter jejuni. The molecules responsible for the
antibacterial activity were identified as (E)-methylisoeugenol and elemicin [120]. A strongest antifungal activity
was observed for carotol, the main sesquiterpenic compound in the carrot seed oil, it inhibited the radial growth of
Alternaria alternata by 65% [121].
Gastroprotective effect:
The therapeutic potential of 50% ethanol extract from Daucus carota roots (EDC) was studied as
antisecretory, gastroprotective, and antacid capacity using experimental rats. Assessment of EDC antisecretory
and in vivo antacid capacities was carried out using a pyloric ligation induced ulcer model. The gastroprotective

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
79
effect was assessed with an absolute ethanol induced ulcer model. The integrity of gastric mucosa was evaluated
using the estimation of glutathione and gastric mucus level and with histopathological examination of gastric
mucosal cells. The effect of the extract on the liver was assessed by measuring serum biochemical parameters. The
EDC significantly (P< 0.01-0.001) reduced gastric lesions in both models. It also significantly (P< 0.05-0.001)
reduced the volume of gastric content, the total acidity was significantly (P< 0.05-0.001) reduced with the doses
of 100 and 200 mg/ kg EDC. The mucus content and glutathione level increased significantly (P< 0.05) in the
absolute alcohol-induced ulcer. The EDC also showed in vitro antacid capacity. Histopathological studies further
confirmed the effects of EDC by inhibiting congestion, edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis in gastric mucosa [122].
The anti peptic ulcer effects of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Daucus carota umbels was investigated
against ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats. Aqueous and methanolic extracts showed significant protection
against ethanol induced gastric ulcer with a curative ratio of 46.8 and 68.7%, at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight,
respectively [123]. The gastroprotective potential of the fresh juice extract of the roots of Daucus carota (200 and
400 mg/kg bw, orally) was studied in gastric ulcerations experimentally induced by pylorus ligation, aspirin and
ethanol induced. The Daucus carota extracts were significantly decreased free acidity, total acidity and ulcer
index, while it increased the pH and the mucus content as compared with control. The Daucus carota extract at a
dose of 400 mg/kg produced 60.45, 56.80 and 43.51 % ulceration inhibition when the gastric ulceration were
induced by pylorus ligation, aspirin and ethanol, respectively [124]. The gastroprotective effect of 4.08 g carrot
juice administered by feeding tube was studied on the hydrochloric acid concentration in the stomach in aspirin-
induced Wistar-strain rats. The result of carrot juice consumption together with aspirin shows a statistically
significant reduction in HCl concentration in the stomach (P< 0.05). The result was also significant when
compared with Misoprostol [125].
Nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects:
The renoprotective activity of Daucus carota root extract was studied in renal ischemia reperfusion injury
in rats. Renal pedicles of rats were occluded for 45 minutes followed by 24 hours reperfusion. Six days prior to
induction of I/R, groups of rats received petroleum ether extract, fractional methanolic extract and methanolic
extract of Daucus carota root (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally). Renal ischemia reperfusion caused significant
impairment of kidney function. Six day administration of Daucus carota, minimized this effect. Rats with renal
I/R showed significantly decreased activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione compared
with the sham operated rats. These declining trends were significantly less in the group treated with petroleum
ether, fractional methanolic and direct methanolic extract of Daucus carota root compared with those in I/R group.
Renal I/R also produced a significant increase in malondialdehyde level, while pretreatment with Daucus carota
extracts was associated with a significantly lower malondialdehyde level. Accordingly, Daucus carota extracts
exerted renoprotective activity probably by the free radical scavenging activity [126].The protective and curative
potential of Daucus carota root extract was also investigated in renal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. In
protective and curative studies, 14 days prior and 14 days after the induction of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), rats
received petroleum ether extract (PEE 250 and 500 mg/kg), fractional methanol extract (FME 250 and 500 mg/kg)
and direct methanol extract (DME 250 and 500 mg/kg) of Daucus carota root, orally, once daily. PEE at a dose of
500 mg/kg significantly (P< 0.001) reduced the levels of serum creatinine (0.853-3.090 mg/dl), uric acid (1.300-
3.500 mg/dl) and urea (58.26-132.00 mg/dl) compared to disease control. FME at a dose of 500 mg/kg body
weight significantly (P< 0.001) reduced the levels of serum creatinine (0.960-3.090 mg/dl), uric acid (1.700-3.500
mg/dl) and urea (77.17-132.00 mg/dl) compared to disease control. DME at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight
significantly (P< 0.001) reduced the levels of serum creatinine (1.173-3.090 mg/dl), uric acid (2.267-3.500 mg/dl)
and urea (84.75-132.00 mg/dl) compared to disease control [127].The nephroprotective effects of ethanolic root
extract of Daucus carota (200 and 400 mg/kg, po) was studied against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in
albino Wistar rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of gentamicin (100
mg/kg/day) for 8 days. Gentamicin intoxication induced elevated serum urea, BUN, uric acid, and creatinine levels
which was found to be significantly (P< 0.01) decreased in a dose-dependent manner in groups received Daucus
carota. The nephroprotective effects of Daucus carota were further confirmed by histological observations
[128].The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Daucus carota seeds was studied in
experimental rats. Oxidative stress were induced in rats by thioacetamide 100 mg/kg sc, in four groups of rats
(two test, standard and toxic control). Two test groups received Daucus carota seeds extract (DCSE) at doses of
200 and 400 mg/kg. Standard group received silymarin (25 mg/kg) and toxic control received only thioacetamide.
On the 8th day animals were sacrificed and liver enzyme, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum
glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were estimated in blood serum and
antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GRD), glutathione
peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were estimated in liver
homogenate. A significant decrease in SGPT, SGOT and ALP levels was observed in all drug treated groups as
compared to thioacetamide group (P< 0.001), furthermore, significant (P< 0.001) increase in SOD, CAT, GRD,

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
80
GPX and GST was observed in all drug treated groups as compared with thioacetamide group. However, a
significant (P< 0.001) reduction in LPO was observed as compared to toxic control group [129].The effect of
carrot extract on CCl4-induced acute liver damage was evaluatedin mice. The extracts significantly lowered the
serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase,
alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol and glutamate dehydrogenase elevated by CCl4-induction. Extract also decreased
the elevated serum bilirubin and urea. The increased activities of hepatic 5'-nucleotidase, acid phosphatase, acid
ribonuclease and decreased levels of succinic dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase and cytochrome P-450
produced by CCl4 were reversed by the extract in a dose-responsive way [130].
The hepatoprotective effect of kaempferol (100 and 200 mg/kg bw) isolated from Daucus carota leaves was
tested in paracetamol induced liver damage of albino rats. Paracetamol induced significant (P< 0.05) increase in
liver enzymes along with hepatic necrosis and visible disarrangements in hepatic tissues. Oral treatment with
kaempferol reversed all the serum and liver parameters, dose-dependently [131].
Cardiovascular effects:
Ethanolic extract of Daucus carota at the dose of 10–100 mg/kg caused a dose-dependent fall in systolic
and diastolic arterial blood pressure in normotensive anesthetized rats. These effects were not blocked by atropine
(1 mg/kg). Pretreatment with Daucus carota did not alter the pressor response to norepinephrine indicating that,
cardiovascular effects of Daucus carota were independent of cholinergic or adrenergic receptors involvement. In
spontaneously beating guinea-pig paired atria, Daucus carota induced a concentration-dependent decrease in
force and rate of atrial contractions. In rabbit thoracic aorta, Daucus carota caused inhibition of K+-induced
contractions [132]. Fractionation of aerial parts of Daucus carota resulted in the isolation of two cumarin
glycosides coded as DC-2 and DC-3. Intravenous administration (1-10mg/kg) of these compounds caused a dose-
dependent fall in arterial blood pressure in normotensive anaesthetised rats, Both compounds caused dose-
dependent (10-200 pg/ml) inhibitory effect on spontaneously beating guinea pig atria as weIl as on the K-induced
contractions of rabbit aorta. The results indicated that DC-2 and DC-3 acting through blockade of calcium
channels, the effect which may be responsible for the blood pressure lowering effect of the compounds observed
in the in vivo studies [133].Aqueous extract of Daucus carota tubers were investigated for inotropic and
cardioprotective effects by measuring various biochemical parameters at the test doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg.
Isoproterenol (5.25 mg/kg and 8.5 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously on 29th and 30th day respectively in
order to induce myocardial infarction. Cardiac tonicity was estimated by evaluating Na+K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase
and Ca2+-ATPase levels in heart. The levels of Na+K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase were decreased and that of Ca2+-
ATPase was increased in extract-treated group significantly (P< 0.001). Cardioprotection was assessed by
estimating serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lipid peroxidase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels
and cardiac total protein, lipid peroxidase, and lactate dehydrogenase. The levels altered by isoproterenol were
restored significantly by the administration of the extract [134]. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats
developed hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, increased cardiac stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, impaired glucose
tolerance, increased abdominal fat deposition, altered plasma lipid profile, liver fibrosis and increased plasma liver
enzymes together with increased plasma markers of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as increased
inflammatory cell infiltration. Purple carrot juice reversed all these parameters [114]. The effects of a 3-week
supplementation of the diet with carrot (15% dry matter) in lipid metabolism was studied in rats. A significant
decrease of cholesterol level in liver (–44%; p= 0.0007) was observed together with a reduction of the level of
liver triglycerides (–40%; P= 0.0005). Fecal total steroids excretion increased by 30% upon feeding the carrot diet
as compared to the control. The secretion of bile acids was maintained, whereas the cholesterol apparent
absorption was reduced in rats fed carrot diet [110].
Antidiabetic effect:
A dichloromethane (DCM) extract of carrot roots stimulated insulin-dependent glucose uptake (GU) in
adipocytes in a dose dependent manner. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the DCM extract resulted in the isolation
of the polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol. Both polyacetylenes were significantly stimulated basal and/or
insulin-dependent GU in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and porcine myotube cell cultures in a dose-dependent manner.
Falcarindiol increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ-mediated transactivation significantly
at concentrations of 3, 10 and 30 μM, while PPARγ-mediated transactivation by falcarinol was only observed at 10
μM. Falcarindiol was linked to the ligand binding domain of PPARγ with higher affinity than falcarinol, both
polyacetylenes exhibited characteristics of PPARγ partial agonists. Falcarinol was shown to inhibit adipocyte
differentiation as evident by gene expression studies and Oil Red O staining, whereas falcarindiol did not inhibit
adipocyte differentiation, which indicated that these polyacetylenes showed different modes of action [135].
The effect of the methanol extract of Daucus carota (wild carrot) seeds (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw orally for 6
days), was studied on the serum levels of lipids and biochemical indices of kidney and liver function in
streptozocin-induced diabetic (type 1) rats. Administration of Daucus carota seeds extract in diabetic rats for six

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
81
days, at all doses, significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and creatinine.
Furthermore, oral administration of extract (200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly decreased serum levels of Low
density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate amino transferase and urea. Also, extract (300 mg/kg) decreased serum
level of alanine aminotransferase (P< 0.05) [136].
Antiinflammatory effects:
The anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Daucus carota umbels was
studied in acute and chronic inflammation in rats. In acute inflammation, the aqueous and methanolic extracts
produced maximum anti-inflammatory activity at doses of 400 and 140 mg/kg body weight with 90.9 and 58.6 %
inhibition, respectively. In chronic inflammation, the same doses showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity
with 58 and 44.1 % inhibition, respectively [123]. The essential oil of Daucus carota subsp carota from Portugal.
exhibited some anti-inflammatory potential by decreasing nitric oxide production around 20% in LPS-stimulated
macrophages, without decreasing macrophages viability [85]. The ethanolic extract of Daucus carota seeds was
investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bw, orally.
Carrageenan-, histamine- and serotonin-induced paw edema were used to study the effect of extract in acute
inflammatory model, while, formaldehyde-induced arthritis was employed as a chronic model in rats. The acetic
acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking time in the early and late phases of mice were
used to assess analgesic activity. The higher doses of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, po) inhibiting carrageenan,
histamine and serotonin-induced paw edema as well as formaldehyde-induced arthritis successfully. The extract
(200 and 400 mg/kg, po) also significantly attenuated the writhing responses induced by an intraperitoneal
injection of acetic acid and late phase of pain response induced by an subplantar injection of formalin in mice
[137].Daucus carota seed extracts were investigated as Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes inhibitor. Compounds,
2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, oleic acid, trans-asarone and geraniol were isolated from seed extract. They
showed 3.32, 45.32, 46.15, and 3.15% of prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-I (COX-I) inhibitory activity and
52.69, 68.41, 64.39 and 0% prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-II (COX-II) inhibitory activity, respectively at
100 mg/ml. Compound 2,4,5-trimethoxy benzaldehyde showed selectivity towards COX-II enzyme inhibition at
100 µg/ml [138].
Effects on reproductive systems:
The petroleum ether extract and fraction 5 (fatty acids) of carrot seeds arrested the normal estrus cycle of
adult mouse and reduced the weight of ovaries significantly. The cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in ovaries
were significantly elevated by the extract and fraction 5 of carrot seeds. A significant inhibition of delta 5,3-beta-
hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (the two key enzymes involved in ovarian
steroidogenesis) were also recorded in mouse ovaries after 15 days of treatment [139].
The petroleum ether, alcoholic, and aqueous extracts of Daucus carota were evaluated for their possible
antiovulatory activity in rabbits with copper-induced ovulation. All extracts inhibited ovulation in 40%, or less, of
the animals [140].The influence of carrot seed extract (CSE) on spermatogenesis, number and motility of sperms
in cauda epididyme was studied in male rats. Administration of CSE caused a significant increase in cauda
epididymis sperm reserve compared with the control (28.2 ± 1.8 ×106 vs. 45.1 ± 2.0, ×106). The extract also
protected testis from the gentamicin-induced necrosis. The CSE administration caused about 3.5-times increase in
the LH levels even in spite of receiving 5 mg/kg/day gentamicin with no significant effect on FSH levels. The
testosterone concentrations in the group received 400 mg/kg CSE were 30% and 83% higher than its levels in the
control and gentamicin treated group, respectively. Accordingly, CSE can overcome reproductive toxicity of
gentamicin and induces spermatogenesis probably through the elevation of testosterone levels [141].
The alcoholic extract of Daucus carota seed was administered at different doses ranging from 50 to 250 mg/kg bw
after coitus showed a significant dose dependent antifertility effect. The administration of the extract at a lower
dose showed anti-implantational activity, whereas higher doses caused fetal resorption. The main effect of the
extract appeared to be an abortifacient activity. At higher dose levels, the extract demonstrated an estrogenic
nature with a prolonged estrous phase, whereas lower doses showed an antiestrogenic nature and an increase in the
percentage duration of the diestrous phase of the estrous cycle. The extract produced neither progestational nor
antiprogestational effects [142].
Wound healing effect:
The soft paraffin based cream containing 1%, 2% and 4% w/w of ethanolic extract of Daucus carota
(EEDC) root was formulated and evaluated in wound healing activity on excision and incision wound models.
Animals treated with topical EEDC cream formulation (1%, 2% and 4% w/w) showed significance decrease in
wound area, epithelization period and scar width whereas, the rate of wound contraction was significantly
increased (P< 0.01, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively) as compared to control group animals in excision wound
model. In incision wound model there was significant increase (P< 0.01 and P< 0.001) in tensile strength,

Nutritional and therapeutic importance of Daucus carota- A review
82
hydroxyproline and protein content of animals treated with topical EEDC cream formulation (2% and 4% w/w,
respectively). Ethanolic extract of Daucus carota root cream when applied topically did not show any sign and
symptoms of skin irritation [143].
Effect on smooth muscles:
A nitrogen containing tertiary base isolated from the seeds of Daucus carota, the base and its bromide
have been studied on smooth muscles of ileum, uterus, blood vessels and trachea of different species of animals.
The tertiary base possessed papaverine like nonspecific smooth muscle relaxant and spasmolytic activity, but its
activity was found to be about one-tenth of that of papaverine [144].
Effect on intraocular pressure:
In normotensive rabbits, topical application of Daucus carota seed extract at the concentration of 0.3,
0.6 and 1.2% resulted in mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction of 19.33. 23.20 and 25.61% respectively. No
significant difference was observed between the change in IOP in 0.6 and 1.2% extract treated groups, 0.6%
concentration was chosen for further evaluation in rabbits with experimentally elevated IOP. In water loaded
rabbits, maximum mean IOP reduction with 0.6% extract was 29.39%, which was comparable to pilocarpine
[145].
Hear induction effect:
Animal studies were carried out by application of standardized Daucus carota extract in gel formulation
to the shaved dorsal skin of albino rats, then histomorphometric analysis was employed to study induction of the
hair follicle cycle. The effect of extract on the telogen to anagen transition, the protein expression levels of β-
catenin in hair follicles were determined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that petroleum ether
Daucus carota extract promoted hair growth by inducing the anagen phase. The histomorphometric analysis data
indicated that topical application of the extract in gel form induced an earlier anagen phase and prolonged the
mature anagen phase, in contrast to control and 1% minoxidil treated group. Results also revealed an increase in
both the numbers and size of hair follicles of the extract treated group. Moreover, the immunehistochemical
analysis revealed earlier induction of β-catenin in hair follicles of the extract-treated group, compared to the
control group [146].
V. CONCLUSION
The current review discussed the chemical constituents, nutritional, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects
of different parts of Daucus carota to be utilize in medical practice as a result of its safety and effectiveness.
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