ABSTRACT

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) catalogues over 100 herbs essential to traditional medicine, including Anethum graveolens. While its gastrointestinal benefits, volatile oils & phytochemical profile are well-documented, the specific role of its phytosterol content — particularly beta-sitosterol (?-sitosterol) — remains under-researched. Our study aims to determine the presence of ?-sitosterol in A. graveolens seeds using the CAMAG HPTLC method. Our analysis successfully identified the compound, yielding a characteristic purple band at an Rf value of 0.39, consistent with the ?-sitosterol standard. Building on this analytical validation, we further explored the therapeutic potential of ?- sitosterol via the gut-skin axis. Through a comprehensive literature review, we propose that ?- sitosterol’s influence on gut microbiome modulation allows A. graveolens to exert systemic effects beyond relieving gastrointestinal disorders alone. Given its established anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties, we suggest that A. graveolens holds significant potential for improving skin health via the gut-skin axis. This positions the herb as a candidate for treating skin disorders through targeted gut modulation. Keywords: Anethum graveolens, beta-sitosterol, CAMAG HPTLC, gut-skin axis, microbiome
Publication date: 2026/10/01

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/October/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10516.pdf

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doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.10.10516