The New Nation - Internet Edition

-Jamayet Ali

Gajor (Carrot) is an annual or biennial herb with an erect, feathery leaves, small white flowers and much branched stem. The colour of the roots in the cultivated types varies from white to yellowish, orange yellow, light purple, deep red or deep violet and the shape varies from short stumps to tapering cones. Important species among the exotic types grown in Bangladesh are Chantenay, Nantes, Early Nantes, Gold Spike, Imperator, Long-Scarlet etc. Among the indigenous types, a greenish white form is preferred to cultivation for its hardiness and yield qualities. Its Botanical name is Daucus carota.

Carrot roots are used as a vegetable for soups, stews, curries and pies. Grated roots are used as salad and tender roots are pickled. Dehydrated carrot in the form of discs and slices and carrot jam are popular. Carrot juice is a rich source of carotene. It is used for colouring butter and other food articles. Press juice from carrot is used as a blend for orange juice to give a palatable canned beverage. Carrot juice covers up the stale flavour of canned orange juice and the mixed product remains palatable even after storage for one year.

All kinds of soils, except clay, are suitable for raising carrots, but a well-drained, medium or light loamy soil is best suited. Carrots can stand a slightly alkaline soil. Only the short stamp rooted varieties thrive in heavy soils. The long tapering varieties require open soil which permits roots to penetrate freely and swell evenly. The shape and colour of roots are influenced by temperature, high temperature tending to produce short roots poor in colour. Carrot is probably a native of the sea-coasts of South Europe, but of very ancient cultivation.

Carrot is rich in nutrition values. Edible per 100 grams of carrot contain: moisture 85.0; minerals 0.9; fibre 1.2; protein 1.2; fat 0.2 and carbohydrate 12.7g.; calorie 57 (energy); calcium, 27; iron, 2.2; vitamin B1, 0.04; vitamin B-2, 0.05; vitamin C, 15mg. and carotene (equivalent to vitamin A 10, 520 I.U.). The protein content tends to decrease and the total carbohydrate content, to increase with growth (Food Processes and Analyses, Mohammad Yunus, BARC, Dhaka, 47).

Properties and Uses: Carrot is a coronary vasodilator, antimicrobial and used in leprosy, piles, biliousness, tumours, asthma, hiccup, bronchitis, urinary complaints, jaundice, griping and inflammation of spleen. It is also used as a carminative, stomachic, cardiotonic, diuretic, antidysenteric and aphrodisiac. Seeds are aphrodisiac, nervine tonic and used in dropsy, kidney and menstrual diseases. The seed oil gives positive test for glycoside, produces hypotensive effects, depresses respiration and relaxes smooth muscles. The oil also shows antifertility properties and anthelmintic activity against earthworm comparable to that of piperizine citrate (Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh, Abdul Ghani, Second Edition, 204).

Medicinal Properties: Carrot is also rich in medicinal properties. It is sweet, sharp, bitter; gives appetite; astringent to the bowels, antidysenteric, carminative, cardiotonic; cures leprosy, piles, pains, burning sensation, thirst, biliousness, tumours; good for inflammation, asthma, hiccough; corrects foul breath (Ayurveda). The carrot has a sweet, good taste, slightly bitter; tonic, aphrodisiac, expectorant, diuretic, stomachic, good for the liver; used in bronchitis and chest troubles, urinary complaints; lessens griping and inflammation of the spleen. for external use the leaves are preferable. The wild carrot is laxative (Yunani).

The seeds are considered to be a nervine tonic; boiled with honey and fermented, they produced a spirituous liquor. A decoction of the leaves and seeds is said to be used by natives as a stimulant to the uterus during parturition. The roots; are made into a marmalade and considered refrigerant. In the Punjab, the seeds are considered aphrodisiac, and given in uterine pain. In the Konkan, a poultice of carrots and salt is used in tetter, and the seeds are eaten as an aphrodisiac. The fruits are recommended in chronic diarrhoea. They are said to be diuretic. A poultice made of the roots is used to correct the discharge from in-conditioned sores. The raw rasped root is also deemed useful as a stimulating application, and is made into an ointment with lard. This is much used in burns and scalds to good effect. The raw carrot when eaten acts as a mechanical anthelmintic. At Khawas in Baluchistan the seeds of the wild carrot may serve as an emetic (Hughes-Buller). A decoction of carrot is a popular remedy for jaundice in Europe. Rasped carrot is applied to burns and foul ulcers. In Indo China, carrots are eaten raw and cooked to regulate the functions of the stomach and intestines.; in combination with other drugs they are used for dysentery. The Europeans of South Africa used a decoction of the common carrot for infantile diarrhoea (Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. II, Kirt. & B.D. Basu, 1229-30)

Medicine: An infusion of carrot has long been used as a folk remedy for thread worms. Carrot increases the quantity of urine and helps the elimination of uric acid. The addition of large amounts of carrot to the diet has favourable effect on the nitrogen balance. An amorphous yellow fraction is obtained from petrol ether extracts of dried carrots. This fraction when dissolved in almond oil and injected into men, rabbits or dogs causes a marked reduction in blood sugar without other noticeable effects. Scrapped root is used as a local stimulant for indolent ulcers (D.S.D., 1385)

Carrot seeds are aromatic, stimulant and carminative. They are reported to be useful in diseases of the kidney and in dropsy (Chopra, 482; Kirt. & Basu, II, 1229). Carrot seeds are considered a nervine tonic. Boiled with honey and fermented, they produce a spirituous liquor. A decoction of the leaves and seeds is said to be used as a stimulant to the uterus during parturition.

The roots are made into a marmalade which is considered refrigerant. Dr. Dymock writes that "in the Concan a poultice of carrots and salt is used in tetter, and the seeds are eaten as an aphrodisiac." Formerly the carrot seeds (fruits) were used in European medical practice, and they are so still in America. They possess aromatic, stimulant and carminative properties, and were used in disease of the kidney, flatulent colic and dropsy.

A poultice made of the roots is even at the present day resorted in domestic medicine, to correct the discharge from ill-conditioned sores. The raw rasped root is also deemed useful as a stimulating application, and is made into an ointment with lard. This is used in burns and scalds to good effect. Pickled-carrots are much lauded by Persian writers as a cure for spleen. In the American dispensatory it is stated that the wild root may be substituted for the seeds.

Special Opinions: "The crushed roots form the vehicle for many medicines used by native hakims, and have the reputation of having tonic properties." (Narain Misser, Kothe Bazar Dispensary, Hoshangabad, Central Provinces). "The raw carrot when eaten acts as a mechanical anthelmintic" (Surgeon-Major D.R. Thomson, M.D., C.I.E., Surgeon, 1st district, Madras).

"Poultice of the root is useful in chronic and foetid ulcers" (Surgeon-Major George Cumberland Ross, Delhi). "Boiled and given to cattle with the view of making them fat" (Assistant Surgeon Annund Chunder Mookerji, Noakhally). "The seeds are used to bring about abortion. The roots are used as poultice" (Surgeon-Major Robb, Civil Surgeon, Ahmedabad). "Used in dysentery and enlargement of spleen (John Mc Conaghy, M.D., Civl Surgeon, Shahjahanpore.) (Dictionary of the Economic Products of India)