Coriander, also known as Chinese parsley or cilantro, generally refers to a herb

(Coriandrum sativum) that is a member of the Apiaceae family, which contains about
3,700 species. Coriander is an annual herb indigenous to the Middle East and North
African (MENA) region now grown commercially in India, Eastern Europe, Russia, and
other former Soviet Republics. As such, coriander has been used as a flavoring
agent, medicinal cure, aphrodisiac, etc., and has been cultivated for more than
3,000 years. There have been several documented uses of coriander in Eastern
medical practice by the Chinese and Indians. Although coriander has an unpleasant
smell, the leaves, seeds, and oil derived from the plant is known to have a
multitude of health benefits.

Coriander seeds comprise of bioactive components such as fatty acids, sterols,

tocols, etc. Sterol, present in the seeds, inhibit the absorption of cholesterol by
the body. The essential oil extracted from the herb is primarily constituted of the
compound Linalool. Linalool constitutes approximately 70-87 percent of extracted
essential oil. Linalool is responsible for the analgesic property of coriander
essential oil. Additionally, the anti-cancer property of coriander is attributed to
Linalool.

Coriander
Benefits of Coriander:
1. Coriander Helps Fight Cancer:

According to studies, coriander prevents the formation of heterocyclic amine (HCA).

Heterocyclic amines (HCA) is a chemical that is formed when meats such as beef,
pork, fish, etc., are cooked at elevated temperatures. Some HCAs are known
carcinogens. Further, several studies have shown that frequent and excess
consumption of foods containing HCAs increase the chances of cancer. For instance,
stomach cancer, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer have been linked to
frequent consumption of fried or barbecued meats. Meat cooked with the inclusion of
coriander has been shown to contain lower levels of HCA. Additionally, Linalool, a
major component of Coriander essential oil, has an inhibitory effect on cell
proliferation, thereby helping improve management of cancer, multi-drug resistant
tumors, and inhibiting metastasis.
2. Antioxidant Effects of Coriander:

Studies have shown that coriander contains antioxidants. The antioxidants in

coriander prevent aging and protect skin from Ultra Violet (UV) B radiation. The
antioxidants in coriander help cure conjunctivitis. A decoction prepared from
coriander helps reduce irritation, burning, and redness caused due to
conjunctivitis. Additionally, coriander has anti-fungal properties. Coriander oil,
extracted from coriander leaves, is used in treating fungal infections like
athlete�s foot, Candida albicans, etc.
3. Coriander Reduces Risk of Lifestyle Diseases:

Lifestyle diseases include diseases caused partly due to inactivity and partly due
to the unhealthy behavior of smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Obesity,
diabetes, stroke, etc., are all examples of lifestyle diseases. Coriander has been
proven to work as a stimulant to increase the secretion of insulin. This allows
regulation of blood sugar levels. Increasing intake of cilantro decreases the risk
of obesity, diabetes, etc.

Furthermore, coriander intake is linked to varying cholesterol levels. For

instance, coriander lowers deposition of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the
levels of good cholesterol (HDL) which prevents the onset of dangerous health
conditions. Moreover, the usage of coriander further helps to reduce flavoring
using salt, thereby reducing the intake of sodium. As is widely known, excessive
use of sodium has been linked to increased blood pressure and poses health risks.
4. Coriander Reduces Inflammation and Relieves Pain:
Coriander has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Existing anti-
inflammatory drugs use chemicals as ingredients. Typically, such anti-inflammatory
drugs using chemicals have potential side-effects.

Coriander based anti-inflammatory drugs achieve this object without creating any
side-effects. As such, there is an increasing requirement for anti-inflammatory
drugs containing naturally occurring ingredients. Also, coriander oil�s
antispasmodic and analgesic actions relieve muscular aches and stiffness in the
joints. Coriander oil also acts as a circulatory stimulant thereby increasing
physical energy levels. As a circulatory stimulant, coriander oil encourages the
release of toxins from the body, thereby improving conditions such as arthritis,
irregular breathing, dizziness, etc.
5. Coriander Improves Digestion:

Coriander, like many other spices, improves digestion and alleviates disorders like
colic, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, stomach cramps, etc. Coriander oil is also a
stimulant and help anorexics to overcome their eating disorders. In England, during
the 1600s, coriander seeds were served as sweets after meals to prevent indigestion
and as breath fresheners. In India, as part of Ayurvedic medicine, coriander in
combination with cardamom and other ingredients is prescribed as a digestive tonic.
6. Coriander is a Natural Preservative:

Coriander oil has a high antioxidant content. The addition of the coriander oil to
food materials reduces the rate of oxidation, thereby increasing the shelf life and
delaying decay. Since ancient times, coriander seed powder has been added to
preserve meats and as an essential ingredient of pickles.
7. Metal Detoxification Properties of Coriander:

Coriander has been reported to remove metals like mercury, lead, aluminum, etc.,
from the body by promoting the urination of these metals. There is preliminary
evidence that cilantro may prevent the body from absorbing mercury found in dental
fillings. Additionally, experimental studies on rats have shown the ability of
coriander to reduce heavy metal deposits like lead. This characteristic property of
coriander to combat the accumulation of toxic metals in the body combined with its
anti-microbial, anti-bacterial properties, is the reason behind its current use as
an important ingredient in detox drinks.
8. Coriander Regulates Hormones:

In Chinese medicine, coriander has been prescribed as a remedy for hernias,

toothaches, measles, etc. On the other hand, European physicians use coriander oil
to treat fatigue, flu, etc. As mentioned earlier, coriander has a stimulating
effect on the human body. As such, coriander stimulates the functioning of the
endocrine glands, regulates secretion of hormones like insulin, decreases
dizziness, relieves lethargy, stimulates the central nervous system, etc.

Coriander has a calming effect on people having anxiety, panic, and elevated levels
of stress. In women, intake of coriander influences the production of estrogen. For
women with irregular menstrual cycles, coriander helps regulate the menstrual cycle
and ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause. Furthermore,
coriander�s stimulating property acts as a remedy for people who have low energy
levels and are prone to fatigue. In India, coriander is linked to fertility. Women
are encouraged to consume coriander to improve fertility. Coriander oil is also
especially revitalizing for patients recovering from illness.
9. Coriander Adds Flavor:

Since ancient times, coriander has been used as a flavoring agent across the world.
As such, coriander remains an important ingredient in cuisines of several regions
of the World. In the United States, coriander is often referred to as cilantro,
which is the Spanish word for coriander, due to their extensive use in Mexican
cuisine. Coriander, in combination with orange peels, is an ingredient of Belgian
style white beer and is also used to flavor various alcoholic liqueurs from Europe
and Russia
Precautions and Side Effects:

Beef, poultry meat, milk, and eggs are foods typically contaminated with
salmonella. Sometimes, even vegetables may be contaminated with the salmonella
bacteria. Ingesting contaminated food can lead to food poisoning varying from mild
poisoning to severe dehydration and possible death without proper care and
treatment. Studies by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have
indicated that coriander could be prone to salmonella contamination. In October
2015, the FDA published a recall of an imported coriander brand containing
salmonella. The recall was a result of a routine sampling test by an FDA lab
indicating the presence of Salmonella.

As coriander is used to regulate menstrual cycles due to its influence on estrogen

levels, pregnant mothers are highly advised not to consume it. Further, coriander
has been considered the cause of allergic reactions, although rarely. It is
difficult to detect in food, mostly because coriander is used as a spice or
flavoring agent in combination with other spices. Coriander has been shown to
trigger Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). OAS is an allergic reaction that affects the
regions proximal to the mouth of an individual. OAS is most often attributed to an
allergic reaction to pollen. Sometimes, OAS occurs due to the immune system
mistakenly identifying an ingested food material as pollen. For instance, a person
allergic to birch pollen can have an allergic reaction if he/she consumes almonds,
apples, coriander, carrots, avocados, etc. The allergic reaction is caused due to
the immune system mistakenly identifying the vitamins or proteins in apple or
coriander as a protein in birch pollen. Symptoms include inflammation of the lips,
mouth, itching, shortness of breath, etc. As such, it is advisable for individuals
who have a history of developing allergic reactions to birch pollen to avoid foods
containing coriander.