Coriandrum sativum

Coriandrum sativum, “Coriander” or “Cilantro” in English and “Coriandre” in French, belongs to the Apiaceae botanical family. Native to Southern Europe, it is a herb growing to 0.5 m in waste places and arable land, often by riverbanks.

The leaves are among the most widely used flavouring herbs in the world. The dried seed is also used as a spice in many countries and a major ingredient of Indian curry powder.

Coriander seeds have been used in treating numerous digestive complaints such as indigestion, nausea, dysentery while coriander leaves stimulate appetite and help in easy digestion too.

Among the seeds main constituents are fatty acids (mostly petroselinic and linoleic), sterols (mostly stigmasterol and β-sitosterol). Its essential oil composition varies according to the region, but the main shared compound is linalool.

• English name Coriander
• French name Coriandre cultivée