Common Name: Bishop's Weed

General Information

Ammi majus is an erect, annual plant with a much-branched stem; it can grow 30 - 150cm tall[, ].
The plant has a long history of herbal use going back to at least 2,000BC in Egypt and it is still in common use in modern herbalism. It is often cultivated for its attractive flowering stems which are sold in local markets, and is cultivated in India and elsewhere as a medicinal herb[].
The plant is often found as a weed in cultivated crops, where its presence is said to depress yields[].

Known Hazards

The seed contains various furanocoumarins inclusing xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen) and bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen). Furanocoumarins stimulate the production of pigmentation in skin exposed to ultra-violet light, but it can cause side-effects. Use with caution[].
Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[].

Botanical References

Range

Europe - France to Spain, east to Ukraine and Greece; N. Africa - Morocco to Ethiopia; W. Asia - Turkey, south to Israel, east to Pakistan.

Habitat

Waste places in Britain[]. A weed in fields of winter crop cereals like wheat and barley in the Mediterranean[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position[], succeeding in ordinary garden soil.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Ammi majus is a very effective medicinal plant with a long history of herbal use going back to at least 2,000BC in Egypt, where it was used as a treatment for vitiligo - a use that is still employed in modern herbalism[].

The seed is contraceptive, diuretic, emmenagogue and tonic[]. An infusion is used to calm the digestive system, whilst it is also used in the treatment of asthma and angina[]. The seed is also used to regulate menstruation, and in the treatment of leprosy, kidney stones and urinary tract infections[]. A decoction of the ground-up seed, eaten after intercourse, appears able to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum in the uterus[].
A decoction of the seed is used as a gargle in the treatment of toothache[].

The seed contains furanocoumarins (including bergapten and xanthotoxin), which stimulate pigment production in skin that is exposed to bright sunlight[, ]. The plant is widely cultivated in India for these furanocoumarins which are used in the treatment of vitiligo (piebald skin) and psoriasis[, ].
In one clinical trial, the powdered fruits (dose not specified) were administered orally to leukodermic patients, who then exposed the affected patches to direct sunlight for 1 hour. The patients subsequently developed symptoms of itching, redness, oedema, vesiculation and oozing in the leukodermic patches. A few days later the affected skin gradually started to display deep brown pigmentation. Repigmentation usually developed within 1 week, in a punctate or perifollicular fashion, spreading inwards from the margin or diffuse[].
The extracted furanocoumarin xanthotoxin has been assessed in over 100 clinical studies. When it is used in conjunction with UV-A radiation it is very effective in producing repigmentation of the skin - applied externally in a bath was more effective and had fewer side effects than oral application[].

Other Uses

The root is chewed to give protection from strong sunlight. It contains 8-methoxypsoralen which stimulates production of pigment in skin exposed to U.V. light. Caution is advised, however, since it can cause side-effects[]. Other reports suggest that it is the seeds that are used[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[].