Dittany is a glabrous, perennial herb covered with a tacky gland. The plant is native to the island of Crete and widespread
throughout the mountains of southern Europe. It has erect, round nodulose stems; coriaceous leaves; irregular, white (sometimes
red-streaked) flowers arranged in hirsute clusters; and glabose seeds with an outer black, shiny tunic. Dittany has pale roots.
All parts of the plant are covered with lemon-scented glands, which exude sufficient vapor to ignite in hot weather. The parts used
are the roots and bark. Dittany has a tonic, aromatic flavor.
Composition
Dittany contains tannic acid, a trace of glucose, gummy matter, considerable extractive matter, a part of which was
bitter and acid, and dark-green resin; the ashes give salts of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. The presence of dictamine
(alkaloid), in combination with trigonellin and chlorine, is responsible for the antispasmodic properties of dittany derivatives. Dittany
has been claimed to contain the 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen responsible for photocontact dermatitis.
