Health benefits of spices used in Ethiopian cuisines

Key: N = common English name / Amharic name; C = major active constituents; B = potential health benefits

N: Abyssinian thyme / Tosign
C: Volatile (essential) oils including cymene, methylchevicol, borneol, cineole, terpinene, thymol, linalool, carvacol; flavonoids; triterpenes; tannins
B: For respiratory problems (cough, bronchitis, soar throat), gastrointestinal disorders (colic, dyspepsia, gastritis, flatulence, diarrhea); halitosis; rheumatism; as appetite stimulant, diuretic, anthelminthic, [externally counterirritant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory certain skin disorders].

N: Anise / Insilal
C: Volatile oils such as anethole, methylchavicol and terpenes; furanocumarins; flavonoids; phenylpropanoids; rutin; sterols
B: Carminative relieving flatulence, indigestion and spasm/colic; expectorant; antiseptic/antimicrobial; antiasthmatic; induces milk production and sexual drive; [externally for lice and scabies]

N: Basil / Besobila
C: Volatile oils of various types: estragole, methyl chavicol, cineole, linalool, methyl cinnamate
B: Gastrointestinal problems; for colds; for periodontal (gum) diseases and to inhibit plaque

N: Bishop’s Weed / Nech azmud
C: Furanocumarins, flavonoids, tannins
B: Carminative, generally calming the digestive system; diuretic; for vertigo and angina; antiasthmatic; [xternally for psoriasis]

N: Black cumin or black seed / Tikur azmud
C: Volatile oils of various types, saponin; thymoquinone, nigellone and other alkaloids
B: Carminative relieving flatulence, stomach pain and colic; respiratory problems; anti-inflammatory; antihypertensive; [externally antiseptic]

N: Black pepper / Kundo berbere
C: Volatile oils including thymol, camphene and terpenes; alkaloids
B: Stimulates the digestive and circulatory systems; for rheumatic pain, gum diseases and toothache; antipyretic; [externally antiseptic]

N: Caraway / Not well defined
C: Volatile oils including carvone; flavonoids
B: Similar to anise; carminative reliving flatulence and spasm; improves appetite; for bronchitis and menstrual cramps; expectorant; general tonic; diuretic; induces milk production; [externally for scabies]

N: Cardamom / Korerima
C: Volatile oils including cineole, camphore, borneol, pinene, humulene, caryophllene, carvone, terpinene, sabinene
B: Carminative for gastrointestinal discomfort, digestive stimulant; for liver complaints and colds (cough, bronchitis), fever, mouth inflammation

N: Cumin / Kamun or Insilal
C: Volatile oils including cuminadehyde, monoterpines; flavonoid glycosides
B: Carminative, reliving spasm; diuretic, anticancer, antimicrobial

N: Chili pepper or cayenne / Mitmita
C: Volatile oils, capsaicin, carotenoids, steroidal saponins, flavonoids
B: Carminative, relieving spasm; general tonic increasing circulation, anticoagulant; for peptic ulcer; to reduce cholesterol; [topically counter-irritant, anesthetic/analgesic and antiseptic]

N: Cinnamon / Kerefa
C: Volatile oils including cinnamaldehyde and eugenol; limonene; coumarins; tannins; mucilage
B: Carminative, reliving spasm; general tonic; antiseptic; antidiarrheal; antidiabetic; to lower cholesterol and lipids; for gum disease; to stimulate circulation, antiinflammatory

N: Clove / Kerunfud
C: Volatile oils including eugenol, acetyleugenol, methylsalicylate, pinene, gallic acid, vanillin and vanillin; tannins
B: Carminative, reliving spasm; aphrodisiac; antioxidant; antipyretic; antimicrobial, anesthetic; anti-inflammatory for gum, throat and tooth problems

N: Coriander / Dimbilal
C: Volatile oils including delta-linalool, alpha-pinene and terpinine; flavonoids; phthalides; coumarins; phenolic acids
B: Carminative relieving indigestion, flatulence and cramps; aphrodisiac; [topically for rheumatic pain and antimicrobial]

N: Dill / Insilal or Kamun
C: Volatile oils such as limonene and carvone, and fatty oils
B: For general digestive problems, hemorrhoids, respiratory and urogenital problems, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, diuretic, antihypertensive, sedative

N: Fennel / Insilal or Kamun
C: Fennel oil, containing several essential oils including camphor, limonene, fenchone and anethole
B: To induce milk production, menstruation and labor; increase libido; antiinflammatory; for respiratory problems, for indigestion and colic; diuretic

N: Fenugreek / Abish
C: Volatile oils; alkaloids including trigonelline, saponins (eg., diosgenin); flavonoids; coumarins; isoleucine; steroids; coumarins; mucilage
B: Antidiabetic/to lower blood glucose; to lower cholesterol; as emollient; to relieve indigestion and gastritis; antipyretic; to gain weight; orally for gum abscesses, boils, burns and ulcers; anti-inflammatory; to induce milk production [topically ant-inflammatory]

N: Garlic / Nech shinkurt
C: Volatile oils including allicin and alliin; alliinase (active enzyme); scrodinins
B: Antioxidant; anti-inflammatory; antithrombotic; anti-platelets; antihypertensive; anti-cancer; anti-microbial; expectorant; to relieve digestive disorders; for atherosclerosis, diabetes, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, coronary artery diseases

N: Ginger / Zinjibil or Gingibil
C: Volatile oils including zingiberene; oleoresin including gingerol and shagaols, zingerone
B: Carminative, tonic, anti-vomiting particularly for motion sickness; anti-inflammatory; antimicrobial; cough suppressant; for atherosclerosis

N: Long pepper / Timiz
C: Piperine, piperidine, chavicin
B: Reported traditional uses include appetite enhancement; for gastrointestinal upset; abortifacient; aphrodisiac; analgesic; diuretic; amoebicidal; antiiflammatory; for respiratory problems and epilepsy; [bactericidal externally]

N: Mustard or brassica seed / Senafich
C: Volatile oils, sinigin
B: For stomach ache, constipation, bloating, amoebic dysentery; [Topically counter-irritant and local anesthetic]

N: Nutmeg / Gewz
C: Fixed oil, volatile oil (camphene, dipentene, eugenol, limonene, sabinene, terpinene, etc)
B: For gastrointestinal disturbances; to induce menstruation, abortifacient; for insomnia, rheumatism and sore mouth; hallucinogen

N: Onion, red shallots / Keyi shinkurt
C: Volatile oils, allicin and alliin; flavonoids; phenolic acids; sterols
B: Similar effects as garlic but milder; appetizer; antimicrobial; for colds (cough and flu), cardiovascular problems, and accelerating wound healing

N: Paprika, red pepper / Berbere
C: Generally, similar to those of chili pepper/cayenne (mitmita)
B: Same as chili pepper/cayenne but milder

N: Peppermint / Nanna
C: Peppermint oils including menthone, methyl acetate, cavone, cineole, menthol and menthofurane; limonene; pulegone; sabinene, tannins; pinene, salicylic acid; flavonoids
B: Carminative and for various gastrointestinal disorders, sore throat, cold and cough, toothache; headache; [topically as anesthetic and antiseptic]

N: Rue / Tena adam
C: Volatile oils including undecanone; flavonoids including rutin; furanocomarins including bergapten; furoquinoline and other alkaloids
B: Stimulates uterus and promotes menstruation; for hysteria, epilepsy, vertigo, colic, multiple sclerosis, intestinal worms and eye problems; anti-hypertensive; nervousness; antimicrbials (Note: uterine effect can cause abortion in pregnant women)

N: Turmeric / Erid
C: Volatile oils (zingiberene and tumerone); curcumin; resins
B: Antioxidant; anti-inflammatory, antiarthritis; antimicrobial; for stomach pain and indigestion; lowers cholesterol.

Please contact for all your Ethiopian spices & tea needs.