The “Coriander” plant,
a well-known spice and medicinal plant
Eryngium foetidum L.
(Apiaceae), popularly known as “Coriander plant” in India, is native to the Amazon region, and is widely distributed in Northern Brazil, now seen as an escape or garden plant in many places in India.
One of the important characteristics of the species is the presence of essential oils in its secretory ducts which gives the smell of Coriander fruits.
This plant is a rustic tropical herb, measuring 45 cm in height with light beige and branched roots, straight and cylindrical stems; and spatulate, membranous, glabrous, rosulate leaves having a sheath that resembles a channeled petiole.
The inflorescences are cymose and can be solitary, paired, formed by a floral axis, with bisexual flowers arranged in small and dense sessile, cylindrical, or ovoid, long-pedunculated capitula.
The fruits are globose and scaly . The fruits are indehiscent, densely papillate, white, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter, and globose to ovoid; mericarps measure ± 1.5–2.5 × 1.5 mm and present tiny, globose, isomorphic papillae on the dorsal face, and cylindrical to oblong ventral face, enlarged at the apex..
The plant is distinguished by the essential oils characterized by aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes.
The major constituent, (2E)-2-dodecenal, known as eryngial, (up to 50%- responsible for the peculiar flavor and aroma of the species).
Other components of oil are trimethylbenzaldehyde (16.5%),decanal (14%) (Z)-13-octadecenal, α-pinene, m-cymene, and o-cymene
South American countries such as Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, the plant is used to treat diseases and ailments related to the digestive and gynecological tract, such as flatulence, diarrhea, indigestion, and stomach pain.
The tea of the plant produced by immersing the entire plant (leaves and roots) in hot water, is recommended to treat female reproductive problems, promote menstruation, relieve cramps, treat infertility, and facilitate labor, and it is considered to have aphrodisiac action
The tea is also used to treat digestive tract problems such as an imbalance in the intestinal flora.
It is also used in the form of plaster to relieve joint pain, especially in the knees.
Other important diseases treated with chicory include skin changes, disorders of the nervous and respiratory system, hepatitis , seizures, malaria, sexual impotence, and kidney problems .
It is also reported to be used to alleviate anxiety .
In Colombia, the whole plant is used as antiscorbutic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, against vomiting, nausea, headache, and hemorrhage.
Another form of use is in the preparation of baths and in the treatment of smallpox and gonorrhea [31].
In addition, it is used as the ethnomedicine by the traditional people of the form of tea for the treatment of stomach pains
The proven medicinal properties are
1)Antibacterial Activity,
2) Antioxidant Activity
3) Anti-Inflammatory Activity,
4) anticancer activity and
5) antidiabetic activities..
Anti-inflammatory action was also reported by Mekhora et al. [81] and Dawilai et al. [76].
Their data suggest a significant role in the suppression of the pro-inflammatory process and a high potential of the plant to be used as a food supplement to reduce the risk of cancer associated with inflammation.
Other activities have been reported for the species, such as anticlastogenicity, antilarval and toxicological activities.
Main Reference
Thiara L. M. Rodrigues,1 Maria E. P. Silva,2 Ely S. C. Gurgel,3 Mozaniel S. Oliveira,3 and Flavia C. A. Lucas (2022) Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae): A Literature Review of Traditional Uses, Chemical Composition, and Pharmacological Activities. Evidence Based Complimentary and Alternative medicine Volume 2022 |Article ID 2896895 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2896895
Mammen Daniel
