Coriander Health Benefits

Coriander Health benefits, Side Effects

What is Coriander is an aromatic herb used in culinary preparations as flavoring and spice having many health benefits.
Coriander Health Benefits inclues treatment of digestion problems, loss of appetite, hernia, nausea, diarrhea, bowel spasms, and intestinal gas, hemorrhoids, measles, toothaches and joint pain. 

Coriander

Coriander Side effects and warnings. Coriander is considered safe to most people at recommended dosages, but not for pregnant women. May cause side effects such as allergic reaction to senstive people.


What is Coriander

Scientific Name: Coriandrum sativum

Other Names: Chinese Parsley, Cilantro, Coriandri Fructus, Coriander, Dhanyaka, Huile Essentielle de Coriandre, Koriander, Kustumburi, Persil Arabe, Persil Chinois, Persil Mexicain, Punaise Mâle.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), a herbal plant, belonging to the family Apiceae, is valued for its culinary and medicinal uses. All parts of coriander herb are in use as flavoring agent and/or as traditional remedies for the treatment of different disorders in the folk medicine systems of different civilizations. Coriander is a potential source of lipids (rich in petroselinic acid) and essential oil (high in linalool) isolated from the seeds and the aerial parts. Possesing a multitude of bioactives, a wide array of health benefits have been ascribed to different parts of this herb, which include anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anxiolytic, anti-epileptic, anti-depressant, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-dyslipidemic, anti-hypertensive, neuro-protective and diuretic. Interestingly, coriander also possessed lead-detoxifying potential.

Coriander also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or Mexican parsley is an annual herb native to regions spanning from southern Europe and North Africa to Asia. Dried coriander seeds are best known as aromatic flavouring and seasoning in foods.  While fresh coriander leaves, commonly called cilantro, are used in the preparation of foods (used in Indian, Chinese and Mexican Cuisine). Cilantro or coriander leaves have a citrus, soapy taste with strong odor that to some it is pleasant but to others, the taste is offensive.coriander leaf

Description

Coriander is an annual plant with erect slender stems that grows to 90 cm (36 in) tall. The leaves are variable in shape, slightly lobed and pinnate at the base while slender, linear and more divided on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in short stalked umbels, five to ten rays, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the center. The fruit is a globular, dry schizocarp 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter . The seed clusters are very symmetrical and the seeds fall as soon as ripe.



Health Benefits of Coriander

Traditionally, boiled coriander seeds and leaves is used for digestion problems, loss of appetite, hernia, nausea, diarrhea, bowel spasms, and intestinal gas. Pounded coriander leaves is also used to treat hemorrhoids, measles, toothaches and joint pain. 

Coriander is also used to prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria and fungus.

Coriander is rich in minerals that may be valuable in maintaining overall health. Coriander leaves  are rich in calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium and iron. Research has shown that low potassium is associated with a risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, digestive disorders, and infertility. While iron is essential for red blood cell production. Calcium and manganese is essential in treating and preventing weak bones (osteoporosis) and can help reduce spinal bone loss in older women.

Coriander seed oil has a reputation in many traditional medicines as an anti-inflammatory agent, an analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, digestive, fungicidal, and has cholesterol-lowering effects. These health benefits are due to the abundance of phytonutrients found in coriander’s volatile oils, these include carvone, geraniol, limonene, borneol, camphor, elemol, and linalool.

Coriander is also rich in flavonoids that are considered antioxidants, these include quercitin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and epigenin. Coridander also contains active phenolic acid compounds, including caffeic and chlorogenic acid.

Coriander contains natural antibacterial compound called dodecenal that is safe and effective against Salmonella, a deadly bacteria that is the cause of foodborne illness.

Coriander leaves have sufficient antioxidants, phytonutrients and fibers that actually help in maintaining good level of HDL – known as good cholesterol while reducing the LDL level. – the bad cholesterol.

Coriander is also beneficial in maintaining good skin and mucus membrane because it is rich in folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene and vitamin-C.  The rich vitamin A is important in protecting the vision, lungs and other vital organs.



Scientific Studies of Coriander Health Benefits


Health Benefits of Coriander to Liver Cirrhosis

A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Industrial Health, October 2012, investigated the effects of coriander on thioacetamide-inudce hepatotoxidity in rats. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a potent hepatotoxin that causes centrilobulal necrosis and nephrotoxic damage that can result in bile duct proliferation and liver cirrhosis. Results had shown that coriander leaves attenuate hepatotoxicity induced by TAA more than that of seeds due to the higher content of phenolic compounds and antioxidants in the leaves of coriander. Treatment with coriander leaves and seeds helps in improving the adverse effect of TAA-induced hepatotoxicity.

Cardio protective effect of Coriander on isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats.

The Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology, September 2012 reported a study made to investigate the effects of coriander on cardiac damage caused by isoproterenol  in Wistar rats. Results had shown that pre-treated rats with methanolic extract of coriander seeds was able to prevent or resist the increase of LPO and plasma lipids while it decreased the endogenous antioxidants together with markers of cardiac damage.  The study concluded that coriander seed extract can prevent myocardial infarction by inhibiting myofibrillar damage. It is also concluded that, the rich polyphenolic content of coriander extract is responsible for preventing oxidative damage by effectively scavenging the IP generated ROS.

Anti-diabetes effect of Coriander  in Merions Shaw Rats

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology, September 2011, reported a study made to investigate the traditional use of coriander as treatment for diabetes through an experiment in rats. The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of coriander extract in rats was measured using a forced hypercaloric diet and restricted physical activity in rats. Results have shown that a single dose of coriander extract suppressed hyperglycemia in sampled rats, and normo-glycemia was achieved at 6-h post-dose; there was no effect on lipids, TG or insulin, but IR decreased significantly. The hypoglycemic effect was lower in normal rats with reduced plasma glucose (normoglycemia on Day 21), insulin and IR, TC, LDL-cholesterol, and TG. Atherosclerotic index decreased while cardioprotective indices increased only by CS-extract, with no effect on body weight, urea or creatinine. The study concluded that coriander extract may have cardiovascular protective effect validating the traditional use of coriander in diabetes.

Beneficial Effects of Coriandrum sativum on Induced Colon Cancer

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology, August 2000, published a study on the biochemical effect of coriander seeds on lipid parameters in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) induced colon cancer in rats. The study shows that the concentrations of cholesterol and cholesterol to phospholipid ratio decreased while the level of phospholipid increased significantly in the DMH control group compared to the spice administered group. Fecal dry weight, fecal neutral sterols and bile acids showed a sharp increase in the coriander-fed group compared with the DMH administered group. Thus, coriander plays a protective role against the deleterious effects in lipid metabolism in experimental colon cancer.



Coriander Side Effects and Warnings

Side Effects and Warnings

Coriander is considered safe when taken in food amounts. When used as a medicine, it is considered safe when properly used in recommended dosages.

There are no sufficient studies on the potential side effects of coriander to breast feeding and pregnant women. It is advised to avoid its medicinal use to stay safe.

Coriander may cause allergic reaction, skin irritation and inflammation. 

Coriander may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. If this happens it is advised to stay out of the sun or to use a sunblock.

In one medical report, continuous intake of 200ml of 10% coriander extract for 7 days caused severe diarrhea, stomach pain, darkened skin, depression, lapse of menstruation, and dehydration.


Coriander Availability and Preparation

Availability

Coriander leaves are readily available in most  vegetable and herb sections in most supermarkets. While coriander seeds can be found in the spices section.

Medicinal Coriander preparations are also available in herb shops and can be bought in powdered or in fluid extract form.coriander seeds

How to buy Coriander

When buying coriander leaves, look for the fresh tender, aromatic and very green leaves. Avoid those that are wilted and yellowish in color or those without aroma.

The leaves tend to wilt sooner than other leafy vegetables, it is best to use them immediately to not lose the flavour.  Or store them in refrigerator in a jar of water as you do to a flower.


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