Coriander

Coriander (koris = bug; amon = aniseed) is an annual plant from the umbellifer family (Apiaceae), probably originally from the Mediterranean region, now widespread worldwide, 30-90 cm tall and smelling of bugs. The whole plant is glabrous. Young leaves are roundish, broad and tripartite. Coriander flowers from June to July. Its 0.2-0.5 cm large seeds are yellow to brown and purple at the tip. The dried seed is a popular bread spice. The fruits are almost spherical and have two parts.

Coriander oil, Coriandri aetheroleum (syn. Oleum Coriandri) and the coriander fruits, Coriandri fructus (syn. Fructus Coriandri) are used phytotherapeutically.

HMPC: not processed

ESCOP: not edited

Commission E - Monograph: Dyspeptic complaints, loss of appetite

Folk medicine: internally: diarrhea, in mixtures with other stomach remedies: indigestion, flatulence, stomach cramps.

Coriander contains numerous essential ingredients such as linalool (component of many essential oils e.g. hops, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, basil), geraniol (in geraniums and roses), pinen (in spruce needles, dill, fennel, caraway, rosemary), limes (in lemon and orange oil), terpinen(bergamot oil, tea tree oil).

An essence is obtained by "steam distillation" of the dried seeds and leaves(Coriandrum sativum oil): weak spasmolytic, flatulence and digestive.

The fatty oil extracted from the seeds of coriander(Coriandrum sativum seed oil) is used in detergents and as an emollient in the cosmetics industry.

Coriandrum sativum extract (INCI) is a fruit and leaf extract from the coriander plant used in cosmetic products. It has antiseborrheic effects.

Coriander essential oil is well tolerated by the skin and has an antimicrobial effect with particularly good efficacy against streptococci. In studies it has been used in superinfected nummular eczema ( LOE-D). With a fat emulsion containing 0.5% coriander oil, UV-induced erythema could be inhibited significantly better than with placebo, but weaker than with 1% hydrocortisone (LOE-A). Another indication is superinfected atopic eczema.

Folk use: internally for diarrhea, in mixtures with other stomach remedies for indigestion with flatulence and stomach cramps. In Central and South America for bladder disorders, menstrual cramps, contraception and as an abortifacient.

1. Augustin M et al. (2004) Phytotherapy in skin diseases. Basic-practice studies Elsevier, Munich.
2. Casetti F, Bartelke S, Biehler K, Augustin M, Schempp CM, FranCasetti F et al. (2012) Antimicrobial activity against bacteria with dermatologica relevance and skin tolerance of the essential oil from Coriandrum sativum L. fruits. Phytother Res 26:420-424
3. Reuter J et al. (2008) Anti-inflammatory potencial of a lipolotion containing coriander oil in the ultraviolet erythema test. JDDG 6: 847-851
4. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/coriandrum_sativum/koriander.htm
5. https://plants.fnr.de/industrialplants/medicinalplants/plants-database.