Summary
Coriander is the seed of the popular herb cilantro. Coriander contains a high level of antioxidants. Because of the high levels of antioxidants, coriander aids the body’s natural process of digestion. The essential oil derived from the seeds contains the herb’s medicinal properties. Two teaspoons of coriander seeds contain just 9 calories. There is no evidence of adverse reactions associated with coriander seed use. The average daily dose is 3 grams. Coriander can be found in crushed, powder and extract form.
Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal parts are the coriander oil and dried ripe fruit.
Flower and Fruit
The flowers are white, compact, 3 to 5 blossomed umbels with no involucre. The floret has a 3-bract epicalyx. The border of the calyx has 5 tips. The corolla of the androgynous lateral florets is splayed. The fruit is globular and has a diameter of 3 cm, is straw yellow to brownish, and drops without dividing.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
Coriandrum sativum is a 20 to 70 cm high plant with a bug-like smell. The root is thinly fusiform. The stem is erect, round, glabrous and branched above. The leaves are light green, entire below and double-pinnate above.
Characteristics
The fresh herb and unripe fruit have a bug-like smell. Ripe fruit has a pleasant, tangy smell and taste.
Habitat
The herb is found in the Mediterranean region, central and eastern Europe, eastern Asia, and North and South America.
Production
Coriander consists of the ripe, dried, spherical fruit of Coriandrum sativum and its varieties vulgare A. and microcarpum. The fruit is threshed when it is rust red and is dried in lofts.
Not to be Confused With
Grains and legumes.
Other Names
Cilantro
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Volatile oil (0.4 to 1.7%): chief components D-(+)-linalool (coriandrol, share 60 to 75%), including in addition borneol, p-cymene, camphor, geraniol, limonene, alpha-pinene; the unusual, bug-like smell is caused by the trans-tridec-2-enale content
Fatty oil (13 to 21%): chief fatty acids petroselic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid
Hydroxycoumarins: including umbelliferone, scopoletin
Effects
The essential oil of coriander stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and is a carminative and spasmolytic; in vitro it has antibacterial and antifungal effects.
Indications & Usage
Approved by Commission E:
- Dyspeptic complaints
- Loss of appetite
Unproven Uses
Coriander is used for dyspeptic complaints, loss of appetite and complaints of the upper abdomen.
In folk medicine, Coriander is also used for digestive and gastric complaints; externally it's used for headaches, oral and pharyngeal disorders, halitosis, postpartum complications; the folk indications have not been proved.
Chinese Medicine
Coriander is used in China for loss of appetite, the pre-eruptive phase of chickenpox and measles, hemorrhoids, and rectal prolapse.
Indian Medicine
In India, Coriander is used to treat nosebleeds, coughs, hemorrhoids, scrofulous, painful urination, edema, bladder complaints, vomiting, amoebic dysentery, and dizziness.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
Health risks or side effects following the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded. The drug possesses a weak potential for sensitization.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Crushed and powdered drug, as well as other galenic preparations for internal indication.
Preparations
Coriander extract 1:2 is prepared by percolating 1 weight part of the drug with 45% ethanol so that 2 weights tincture is produced. The infusion is prepared by pouring 150 mL of boiling water over 2 tsp. of crushed drug and straining after 15 minutes.
Daily Dosage
The average daily dose is 3.0 g of drug. The single dose is 1 g.
Infusion – 1 fresh cup between meals.
Tincture – 10 to 20 drops after meals.
Storage
The noncomminuted drug is stored at a maximum temperature of 25ºC, protected from light in well-sealed containers.
