Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander)

FAMILY: Ombrelliferae

HABITAT: Native to the eastern Mediterranean area, possibly also to the Middle East. It is cultivated all over the world as a spice. The drug on the market is also produced in Italy and imported from Morocco, France, Russia, Turkey, Japan and the United States.(1)

USED PART: fruits (1)

RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL FORMS: drug t.q., tincture, extract, essential oil. (1)

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: essential oil (linalool 60-70%, linalicetate, α e β- pinene, limonene, p-cymene, camphene, teripnene, fellandrene, borneol, geraniol, geranicetate, camphor, carvone, elecinol, anethole), coumarins and frocoumarins, lipids (triterpenes, phytosterols), flavonoids, phenolacids, proteins, organic acids. (1-2)

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:
Used as stomachic, spasmolytic and carminative due to its essential oil content, which also has a bactericidal and fungicidal action. It is also used in the treatment of subacidic gastritis, diarrhoea and dyspepsia of various origins. The addition of coriander to anthraquinone drug preparations appears to avoid the colic that sometimes accompanies the use of such powerful laxatives. Furthermore, in animal experiments, coriander demonstrated hypolipidemic effects and an insulin-like action, effects that have long been known in folk medicine. It is also used as a vermifuge and as a ingredient of liniments against rheumatism and arthralgia. (1)

Antibacterial activity: Coriander, in a comparative study with other medicinal species, was shown to have very high antibacterial activity especially against intestinal E.coli (Disk diffusion test). (3)

Intestinal calming activity: Coriander has been shown in vivo to have anxiolytic and muscle-relaxing properties, so it has a good application in IBS with intestinal spasms. (4)

1. Prevalent action: digestive disorders with mild spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence and feeling full. Hypnotic-sedative, antimicrobial, anthelmintic activity. (1)
    
2. Other actions: it is used in loss of appetite, diuretic action, antidiabetic activity, anticonvulsant, antimutagenic. (1)

Main indications: herbal remedy for gastrointestinal problems. (1)

SIDE EFFECTS: none relevant have been demonstrated so far.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: none known.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: none known.

It can be found in relaxcol^®

Bibliography:

1.Max Wichtl. Phytotherapy atlas text, Utet medical sciences.2006: 149-151.
2 were identified. Pathak Nimish L et al. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 01 (04):2011: 20-25
3. Aiysha Thompson et al. Comparison of the antibacterial activity of essential oils and extracts of medicinal and culinary herbs to investigate potential new treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Nov 28;13:338. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-338.
4 were identified. Emamghoreishi M et al. Coriandrum sativum: evaluation of its anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus-maze J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):365-70