The plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean region and the Near East. It is cultivated throughout the world as a spice plant; the drug is imported mainly from Russia, southeastern Europe and Morocco.
Coriander seeds as a medicine
The ripe, dried fruits (Coriandri fructus), often referred to as seeds, are used as a drug. The essential oil (Coriandri aetheroleum) is also used.
Characteristics of coriander
Coriander is an unpleasant-smelling 1-year-old plant about 60 cm high, bearing notched leaves. The flowers are white to pale pink, 5-toothed and arranged in double umbels.
In the marginal flowers, the outer petals are slightly larger, so there is some resemblance to basket flowers. As they ripen, the small fruits break into two single-seeded subfruits.
Coriander fruits
The drug consists of the dried, brown, more or less spherical fruits. The diameter of the fruits, which usually do not disintegrate into the partial fruits, is between 1.5 and 3 mm. When the bark is dried, several main and secondary ribs appear.
Odor and taste of coriander
The smell as well as the taste of coriander are aromatic and spicy, which is why the plant is often used as a seasoning in the preparation of food. On the other hand, the smell of the immature fruits and leaves is rather unpleasant.
