Coriander

Coriander, garden cilantro, Coriandrum sativum L., an annual, herbaceous plant of the umbellifer family (Umbelliferae). Its homeland is southern Europe, northern Africa, and India; it is cultivated in various countries. In the USSR, it is grown in the former Vologda, Tambov provinces and in the Caucasus. The fruits of the plant Fructus Coriandri are used (in Austrian, British, French pharmacopoeias, etc.). The fruits are yellowish in color, approximately spherical in shape, with prominent ribs; they reach 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter. The smell of fresh fruits is unpleasant (smells like bugs), but when dried it is pleasant and aromatic. It contains 0.15-1.1% essential oil, about 13% fatty oil, 0.7% ash, etc. It is used as a stomachicum and carminativum several times a day in doses of 0.5-1.0. It is included in some prescriptions for electuary with senna leaves (Electuarium Sennae), in Species aromaticae, Species laxantes, Aqua carminativa, and in some aromatic essences. It is also used as a spice in confectionery products and in liqueur production.