Coriander or Cilantro

September 8th, 2006

Cilantro, we say Coriander. Although it has two names, Coriander is a single plant, sometimes called Chinese Parsley. Its leaves are known as Cilantro; the seeds are called Coriander.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also commonly called cilantro in North America, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southwestern Asia west to north Africa. It is a soft, hairless, foetid plant growing to 50 cm [20 in.] tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the centre of the umbel longer (5-6 mm) than those pointing to the middle of the umbel (only 1-3 mm long). The fruit is a globular dry schizocarp 3-5 mm diameter.

The name coriander derives from French coriandre through Latin â€œcoriandrumâ€ in turn from Greek â€œÎºÎ¿ÏÎ¯Î±Î½Î½Î¿Î½â€. John Chadwick notes the Mycenaean Greek form of the word, koriadnon “has a pattern curiously similar to the name of Minos’ daughter Ariadne, and it is plain how this might be corrupted later to koriannon or koriandron.

Leaves
The leaves are variously referred to as coriander leaves, cilantro (in the United States, from the Spanish name for the plant), dhania (in the Indian subcontinent, and increasingly in Britain), Chinese parsley or Mexican parsley. The leaves have a very different taste from the seeds, similar to parsley but “juicier” and with citrus-like overtones. Some people instead perceive an unpleasant “soapy” taste and/or a rank smell. This perception is believed to be a result of an enzyme that changes the way they taste cilantro, a genetic trait, but has yet to be fully researched.

Coriander leaves were formerly common in European cuisine but nearly disappeared before the modern period. Today Europeans usually eat coriander leaves only in dishes that originated in foreign cuisines, except in Portugal, where it is still an essential ingredient in many traditional dishes.

The fresh coriander herb is best stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers, after chopping off the roots. The leaves do not keep well and should be eaten quickly, as they lose their aroma when dried or frozen.

. corinder seeds
Coriander Seed has been used as a digestive aid since the days of Ancient Egypt. It is also promotes healing by fighting infections. Coriander Seed is also a safe and effective anti-inflammatory They ease indigestion and prevent wound infection. Coriander has a long history as a digestive aid. In Egypt, the seeds have been found in pharaohs’ tombs, presumably to prevent indigestion in the afterlife. While no one has been able to attest to its post-mortem healing properties, recent studies have supported its use as a stomach soother for both adults and colicky babies. What’ s more, it has wound healing benefits, which were first discovered by the ancient Romans, who used both the leaves and seeds to preserve meats. Coriander contains an antioxidant that helps prevent animal fats from turning rancid. It also contains substances that kill meat-spoiling bacteria and fungi. These same substances in Cilantro also prevent infection in wounds. Coriander has been shown to improve tummy troubles of all kinds, from indigestion to flatulence to diarrhea. “Both Cilantro and Coriander have been shown to settle the stomach, ” says James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retiree from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Weak Coriander tea may be given to children under age 2 for colic. It’s safe for infants and may relieve their pain and help you get some much-needed sleep. Cilantro and Coriander contain substances that kill certain bacteria and fungi, thereby preventing infections from developing in wounds. Sprinkle some Coriander Seed on minor cuts and scrapes after thoroughly washing the injured area with soap and water. Intriguing new studies suggest that Cilantro and Coriander have anti-inflammatory effects. Since the pain of arthritis is cause by inflammation Coriander Seed may help you.(extd. from:http://www.arcadiaherbsandalternatives.com/ )

As a home remedy also coriander is famous for its use in a number of ailments, including morning sickness, migraine and non-specific excessive menstrual bleeding.

Cultivation—Coriander likes a warm, dry, light soil, though it also does well in the somewhat heavy soil of Essex.

Sow in mild, dry weather in shallow drills, about 1/2 inch deep and 8 or 9 inches apart, and cover it evenly with the soil. The seeds are slow in germinating.
As the seeds ripen, the disagreeable odour gives place to a pleasant aroma, and the plant is then cut down with sickles and when dry the fruit is threshed out.

The best land yields on an average 15 cwt. per acre. It is grown to a small extent in the Eastern counties, but more especially in Essex. It is also cultivated in various parts of Continental Europe, and in northern Africa, Malta and India.

—Parts Used—The fruit, and sometimes for salads and soups - the fresh leaves.

The fruit (so-called seeds) are of globular form, beaked, finely ribbed, yellowish-brown 1/5 inch in diameter, with five longitudinal ridges, separable into two halves (the mericarps), each of which is concave internally and shows two broad, longitudinal oil cells (vittae). The seeds have an aromatic taste and, when crushed, a characteristic odour.

Constituents—Coriander fruit contains about 1 per cent of volatile oil, which is the active ingredient. It is pale yellow or colourless, and has the odour of Coriander and a mild aromatic taste. The fruit yields about 5 per cent of ash and contains also malic acid, tannin and some fatty matter.

Coriander fruit of the British Pharmacopoeia is directed to be obtained from plants cultivated in Britain, the fruit before being submitted to distillation being brushed or bruised.

The English-grown are said to have the finest flavour, though the Russian and German are the richest in oil. The Mogadore are the largest and brightest, but contain less oil, and the Bombay fruit, which are also large, are distinguished by their oval shape and yield the least oil of any.

—Medicinal Action and Uses—Stimulant, aromatic and carminative. The powdered fruit, fluid extract and oil are chiefly used medicinally as flavouring to disguise the taste of active purgatives and correct their griping tendencies. It is an ingredient of the following compound preparations of the Pharmacopceia: confection, syrup and tincture of senna, and tincture and syrup of Rhubarb, and enters also into compounds with angelica gentian, jalap, quassia and lavender. As a corrigent to senna, it is considered superior to other aromatics.

Coriander has been used as a folk medicine for the relief of anxiety and insomnia in Iranian folk medicine. Experiments in mice support its use as an anxiolytic.

Coriander essential oil showed a delay in E. Coli growth, suggesting possible agricultural anti-bacterial applications.

Coriander seeds have also been used to prepare a traditional diuretic in India . The diuretic is prepared by boiling equal amounts of coriander seeds and cumin seeds. The extract is then cooled and consumed as a diuretic

If used too freely the seeds become narcotic.

Coriander water was formerly much esteemed as a carminative for windy colic.

–Preparations—Powdered fruit: dose, 10 to 60 grains. Fluid extract, 5 to 30 drops. B.P.: dose, 1/2 to 3 drops.

It is widely and variedly used from diet to the worship of deities.

Six grams of coriander boiled in water and then taken with milk and sugar, helps in improving the digestive system.

A mixture of powdered coriander and powdered aniseed taken with water, controls inflammation, thirst, uneasiness, inflammation while urinating and gives relief from fever by causing excessive perspiration.

Twelve grams of coriander kept for the whole night in a saucer and mashed in the same water in the morning and after filtering the water and mixing 12 gms of sugar and then drinking it, cures the inflammation caused by bileous fever, it also gives relief from the inflammation in the stomach and hands and feet.

If a partial suffering from fever due to malaria is vomiting frequently then giving to him, the filtered water in which half grinded coriander has been mashed, one spoonful of this juice at regular interval checks his vomit.

If three grams of powdered coriander and twelve grams of sugar if mixed in rice water, is given to a pregnant woman, it checks her vomit. It also cures the cough and breathing problem in children.

Mashed coriander, which has been soaked in the water for the whole night. If the water is applied to the eyes, then it gives relief from inflammation in the eyes, red eyes, and prevents the occurrence of small pox in the eyes.

If the water in which coriander has been mashed and soaked for 10-12 hours is mixed with sugar, is given to a person affected by sunstroke, it cures him instantly.

The use of coriander neutralizes the effect of intoxicants.

Note
Excessive use of coriander, diminishes the potency of a man and checks the menstural discharge of a woman.

(Extd.from:http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/corian99.html ,en.wikipedia.org and http://www.urday.com/spice.html)