Sowing coriander (Latin Coriandrum sativum), better known to us as cilantro, is an annual herb from the umbrella family, used as a spice or herb. In addition to the name cilantro, coriander has many different names – kolyandra, kashnich, hamem, kishnishi, chilantro.
Coriander first came to Europe from the Romans and spread quickly. At the moment, cilantro is grown almost everywhere; we mainly in the regions of the North Caucasus and Central Asia. In Belarus, coriander is grown for the production of honey – it is a good honey plant.
Chemical composition of cilantro
Not only greens, but all other parts of the plant are actively used in cooking, industry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetology. The chemical composition of cilantro is rich in a wide variety of valuable substances. Coriander fruits, especially seeds, are rich in essential oils that give the plant a spicy and pungent taste and aroma.
Coriander essential oil contains linaonol and geraniol, borneol, organic acids, decyl aldehydes, pinene, fatty acids. All parts of the cilantro plant contain vitamin C, beta-carotene, rutin, resins and tannins, and flavonoids. Coriander essential oil is a very valuable product; to obtain one kilogram of oil, more than one hundred kilograms of seeds are required.
Medicinal properties
Cilantro is used in pharmacology as a raw material for the production of various medicines. The use of cilantro is that preparations from it improve digestion, stimulate appetite, and are used as a choleretic agent. The useful properties of coriander are as follows: it helps with flatulence, bloating, and various liver diseases. It is used to improve the taste and aroma of other medicines. What else is cilantro useful for? Coriander fruits are part of choleretic teas, laxatives and diuretics. Decoction and infusion of cilantro are an excellent expectorant, help with diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Application
A number of fragrant substances are obtained from coriander essential oil, which are used in cosmetology and the perfumery industry as fragrances to give cosmetics the aromas of lily of the valley, rose, violet, lily, lemon. These fragrances are used to flavor soaps, lotions, shampoos, and so on. The waste left over from the extraction of essential oil is a valuable feed product for pets – it is given to rabbits, poultry, and pigs.
Cilantro is used in cooking as a spice for flavoring various dishes. Fresh coriander greens are added to salads.
