Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THMR).

Culpeper; 'It opens obstructions both of liver and spleen, and is therefore accounted one of the five opening roots. Galen commended it against the falling sickness, and to provoke urine mightily; especially if the roots be boiled, and eaten like Parsnips. The seed is effectual to provoke urine and women's courses, to expel wind, to break the stone, and ease the pains and torments thereof'

Used as a garnish or as a flavouring in salads and many cooked dishes.

Contains Apiol, and Elemicin, alkylbenzenes, which are probably carcinogenic in that they cause DNA changes. They are both genotoxic. Contains 8-methoxy-psoralen, a furocoumarin, which is genotoxic and possibly carcinogenic. Produced adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the kidney, and adenocarcinomas of the Zymbal gland.