Coriander seeds as well as the leaves are widely used as spices in flavoring foods and drinks, and as herbal remedies in traditional treatment of certain health diseases. The oil extract of coriander seeds contains high amount of linoleic acids, which is the source of tocopherols.
Coriander is also known as cilantro, or Dhanya in India. This plant is highly aromatic and has multiple uses in food and in other industries. Fresh coriander juice is highly beneficial in curing many deficiencies related to vitamins and iron. One to two teaspoons of its juice, added to refreshing buttermilk, is incredibly beneficial in curing many diseases.
The leaves can be eaten fresh because of various health benefits however; if it is not harvested freshly seeds mature and ripen in late summer developing delicate aroma which is then used as dried spice.
This plant is useful for the cure of diseases like digestive tract disorders, respiratory tract disorders, urinary tract infections.
Nutritional benefits of coriander seeds
Coriander seeds are fortified with numerous nutrients and bioactive compounds that your body needs to perform optimally.
Coriander seeds possess proteins
Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Your body needs proteins for structural building of your body and to produce the enzymes that catalyze the numerous reactions and energy productions that takes place in your body.
Virtually every biological functioning of your body requires protein at one point or the other in the processes and pathways. When your body lacks protein, you would suffer a deficiency disease known as kwashiorkor.
For children to grow well and develop fully protein must be part of their daily foods; otherwise, they would develop stunted growth, suffer several birth defects and have poor mental capacity.
Coriander seeds possess B vitamins
B vitamins are good for proper development of fetus, and they protect your unborn child from several birth defects, like poor vision and poor cognition. They are needed for energy production and general functioning of our enzymes.
Lack of B vitamins can result to weakness or the body, fatigue and several other diseases.
They possess minerals
Coriander seeds possess strong minerals that your body would need for its functions. Some of the mineral compounds include calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.
Calcium and phosphorus are needed for strong bones and teeth. Phosphorus is also important for protein synthesis, cell growths and repair of worn out cells and tissues. Magnesium also helps maintaining strong bones, normalizes your blood pressure and maintains proper rhythm of your heartbeats.
Zinc plays very important roles in immune regulations and defense systems. It protects your body from viral invasions, such as hepatitis B virus, inhibits the invasion of malaria parasites to your cells and may be good for arthritis. Sodium and potassium helps in keeping your body’s homeostasis balanced.
Possess essential amino acids
While proteins are the building blocks of the body, amino acids are the building block of proteins. Some of the amino acids, the essential amino acids, cannot be synthesized by your body; they are supplied to your body through the foods you eat or the juices you drink.
Coriander possess fiber
Fiber is good for your gastro-intestinal functions. They help people who want to lose weight. This is because fiber makes one feel full and stays a long time without the feeling or hunger. This way, it keeps you from frequent intake of foods high in calories.
Fiber also protects you from constipation and may help in stopping diarrhea and watery stools.
Coriander seeds possess essential oils
Coriander seeds possess high content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The major component of their fatty acids is linoleic acid. These fatty acids are essential for your heart health and functions. They also help in lowering your blood LDL-cholesterol level and enhance insulin secretion and glucose level.
Health benefits of Coriander seeds and leaves
Coriander seeds and leaves have used extensively in traditional medicines in India, China, and several other countries. The roots are also beneficial the treatment of some diseases.
Coriander seeds improve cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular diseases are among the major cause of deaths globally. It can be caused by several risk factors such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and high blood pressure. Luckily however, coriander, also known as cilantro possesses bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant, and cardioprotective effects.
A study by Dyani and colleagues showed that prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with Coriandrum sativum extract and simvastatin in HF rats exerts beneficial effects on cardiac hemodynamics, left ventricular remodeling, and baroreflex function and reduces oxidative stress. The seed extract of coriander also inhibited lipid peroxidation, improved lipid profile, and downregulated the expression of endothelin receptors.
This study proved the traditional use of coriander to treat cardiovascular related diseases. Apart from the seeds, the leaves and fruits of Coriandrum sativum also possess cardioprotective properties.
Coriander seed powder may be added to avocado seed tea or perilla leaf powder, and giving to a cardiovascular disease patient. This mixture would increase the cardioprotective activity of both coriander seeds and that of avocado seeds.
Coriander seeds lower cholesterol level
Hyperlipidemia increases the risk for generation of lipid oxidation products, which accumulate in the sub-endothelial spaces of vasculature and bone. For this reason, efforts have been geared towards formulating food supplements that lower our blood lipids and keep them an normal levels.
The challenge with most supplements is high cost and scarcity. This has led many to look inward to herbs as anti-hyperlipidemic components of our daily foods. Among these herbal remedies is coriander. Both the leaves, fruits and seeds of coriander possess hypolipidemic bioactive compounds.
These hypolipidemic activities of coriander were well researched. A study showed that coriander decreases the uptake of lipid. But that was not all; it also enhances their breakdown. The result of the study showed that coriander can be used as a preventive, as well as curative remedy for hyperlipidemia.
Coriander is used for insomnia
Coriander has been used in Iranian traditional medicines for treating insomnia. The plant has shown through researches to possess anti-anxiety activity. It is also used as a sedative and muscle relaxation agent. A cup of coriander tea after dinner may help you sleep well and cause your muscles and nerves to relax, thereby overcoming insomnia.
Coriander seeds protect the liver
The liver is mostly affected by toxic substances. This is because the liver is the seat of metabolism. Every food or drug, including toxins, ingested into the body is processed by the liver. This exposes the liver to oxidative attacks, hepatocarcinogenic agents and immune degenerating compounds.
The essential oil from coriander seeds, fruits and leaves possess hepatoprotective activity, which may be related to their antioxidant activities. The essential oil increases hepatic enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. They also lowered serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, which are biomarkers of liver injury.
Coriander seeds and fruits lower high blood pressure
As part of their cardiovascular health improvement, coriander fruits, seeds, and leaves also lower hypertension and normalizes your heartbeat. this activity of coriander is carried out through the inhibition of angiotensin-1 converting enzyme. Another mechanism is through diuresis, which reduces sodium ion concentration in the blood through frequent urination and flushing of electrolytes. When combined with blue oyster mushroom or king oyster mushroom, the mixture may be served as a supplement for improving high blood pressure.
They possess anti-aging compounds
Essential oils obtained from the fruits of coriander possess antiaging properties. They help to restore barrier properties of the epidermis and prevent moisture loss. Studies suggested that the oil may contain petroselinic acid as well, which possesses antiaging activity. Coupled with the B vitamins, the oil keeps your skin moist and the vitamin C suppresses oxidative stress and helps your skin look younger. Also contained in coriander oil and extract are anti-irritating agents, and helps to maintain skin texture and tone.
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Coriander seeds improve hair growth and skin health
Just like perilla seed oil, coriander seeds are rich in linalool content. Linalool improves hair growth and thickness. It prevents the breakage of hair and make your hair to shine. Another compound, limonene, which also enhances hair growth and health is also found in the seeds of coriander. Linalool is also a muscle relaxer, sedative agent and improves heart rate.
Coriander seeds help in treating convulsion
Convulsion is a medical condition in which a person’s muscles contract and relax immediately, and in a repeated rhythm. This results in uncontrolled shaking of the body, which can be violent. This rapid involuntary contraction and relaxation of the muscles is associated with brain disorders, such as epilepsy, high fever in children, and presence of certain toxins in the blood.
According to a study conducted by Hosseinzadeh and Mohammad on the anticonvulsant activity of both the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Coriandrum sativum seeds, coriander seeds extracts prolonged onset of chronic convulsions and anti convulsion activity of high dose (5mg/kg) were similar to that of Phenobarbital at a dose of 20mg/kg in the PTZ test. Both extracts in high doses decreased the duration of tonic seizures and showed a statically significant anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock test.
This showed that coriander seeds may be employed in the management of convulsion, epilepsy and other seizures.
Coriander is used in Diabetes treatment
Coriander is a herbal remedy that has strong anti-diabetic effects. It can reduce your blood sugar level significantly. Coriander fruits and seeds also possess strong hypolipidemic activity. The strong suppressive effect of coriander on these two symptoms of diabetes makes it a strong remedy.
Aside lowering blood sugar and lipid levels, coriander seeds and fruits also increase insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and metabolism by the muscle cells.
The hypolipidemic activities of the fruits, seeds and leaves of coriander are seen in the lowering of LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and total cholesterol.
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Possess antimicrobial activity
Other important health benefits of coriander seeds, fruits, and leaves are the antifungal and antibacterial activity. The antimicrobial activity of coriander seed essential oil was screened for antibacterial activity against both Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp.) and Gram negative (escherichia coli, Salomonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosae) bacteria and a pathogenic fungi Candid. The essential oil of coriander seeds showed strong growth inhibition against all the microbes tested on. These findings proved that Coriandrum sativum seed oil may be applied in the treatment of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and respiratory tract infections.
Coriander seeds possess diuretic activity
The seeds increase the excretion rate of urine and electrolytes. This lessens the pressure on your kidneys and the volume of blood the heart has to pump. Through this process, you body may get rid of toxic substances through frequent urination.
Detoxifies toxic metals
Some metals, such as lead are poisonous to the body. Lead can cause kidney poisoning and increases oxidative stress, which may cause kidney failure. The metal detoxification activity of coriander seeds cleanses you body systems of toxic metals, thereby keeping you healthy.
Read also (Guava Leaf Tea: Health Benefits of Guava Leaves)
References
Mahleyuddin, N. N., Moshawih, S., Ming, L. C., Zulkifly, H. H., Kifli, N., Loy, M. J., Sarker, M., Al-Worafi, Y. M., Goh, B. H., Thuraisingam, S., & Goh, H. P. (2021). Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(1), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010209.
Darughe F, Barzegar M, Sahari MA (2012). Antioxidant and antifungal activity of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) essential oil in cake. Int. Food Res. J. 19(3):1253-1260.
Dhyani, Neha & Parveen, Adila & Siddiqi, Aisha & Hussain, Dr.mohammed & Fahim, Mohammad. (2018). Cardioprotective Efficacy of Coriandrum sativum (L.) Seed Extract in Heart Failure Rats Through Modulation of Endothelin Receptors and Antioxidant Potential. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 17. 1-14. 10.1080/19390211.2018.1481483.
Abascal K, Yarnell E. Cilantro – Culinary herb or miracle medicinal plant? Alternative and Complementary Therapies.2012; 18(5):259-264.
Hosseinzadeh Hossein and Mohammad Madanifard. Anticonvulsant effect of coriander sativum L. seed extracts in Mice. Iranian journal of pharmacy.2005; 3: 1-4.
Sabahat S and Perween T. Antimicrobial activities of emblica officinalis and Coriandrum sativum against gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans, Pak J Bot.2007; 39, 913-917.
