Cilantro
Cilantro/Drug Interactions:
AntibioticsAntibiotics: Although the majority of in vitro evidence indicates the cilantro has antibacterial properties (84; 85; 86; 87; 88; 89), in some assays, antibacterial activity was absent (90; 91). AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants: Aqueous extracts of coriander leaf inhibited human platelet aggregation in vitro (19).Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: Coriander has been reported to have hypoglycemic effects in preliminary research (6; 20). In an animal model of diabetes, Coriandrum sativum extract exhibited antihyperglycemic, insulin-releasing, and insulin-like activity (5). Oral administration of Coriandrum sativum extracts significantly reduced the serum glucose level in normal and diabetic rats (21). AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: In animal study, coriander extracts caused a drop in arterial blood pressure in rabbits; in normotensive rats, the decrease was greater than 30% (22; 23). Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: In one human study, a lotion containing 0.5% coriander oil exhibited mild anti-inflammatory effects (1). Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: In animal study, Coriandrum sativum (1g/kg of body weight) reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both synthesis and excretory phases in rats in a manner comparable with that of Liponil, a commercially available herbal hypolipidemic drug (92). AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In humans, there is limited evidence that coriander inhibits tumorigenesis (93; 94). In contrast, a basic stewing preparation containing coriander (mixture of red pepper and black pepper, garlic oil, caraway, and coriander) was determined to be a risk factor for developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (95). Antiulcer agentsAntiulcer agents: In animal study, oral Coriandrum sativum provided dose-dependent protection against the ulcerogenic effects of different necrotizing agents, ethanol-induced histopathological lesions, pylorus-ligated accumulation of gastric acid secretions, and ethanol-related decrease of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups (96).Cytochrome P450-metabolized agentsCytochrome P450-metabolized agents: Components of coriander (d-limonene and 1,8-cineole) inhibited midazolam (MDZ) 1'-hydroxylation and 4-hydroxylation of CYP3A4 activity in vitro in pooled human liver microsomes (97). Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal study, an intragastric perfusion of aqueous Coriandrum sativum extract caused a significant increase in acid secretion in anesthetized albino rats, which was significantly reduced with atropine treatment (98). Coriander also increased acid secretion in injured stomachs. In animal study, an Ayurvedic formulation containing Aegle marmeloes, Coriandrum sativum, Cyperus rotundus, and Vetiveria zinzanioides showed significant inhibitory activity against induced inflammatory bowel disease in a comparable manner to that of prednisolone (99). Heavy metal antagonists/chelating agentsHeavy metal antagonists/chelating agents: Cilantro has been reported to remove mercury, lead, and aluminum from body tissues by accelerating their urinary excretion (94; 100). In a study in mice, localized lead deposition in femur and kidney as well as renal tissue damage was decreased by administration of cilantro (101). Cilantro is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to mobilize heavy metals stored in the brain and spinal cord and moving it into the connective tissues, although cilantro alone often does not remove mercury from the body; it often only displaces the metal's form intracellularly or from deeper body stores to more superficial structures, from where it can be more easily removed with other chelating agents (102). There is preliminary evidence from human study that cilantro may prevent the absorption of mercury contained in amalgam dental fillings (103). Animal study has shown that Coriandrum sativum has suppressive activity on lead deposition, probably resulting from the chelation of lead by some plant constituents (104). Hepatotoxic agentsHepatotoxic agents: In animal study, Coriandrum sativum extract protected the liver from oxidative stress and histological toxicities induced by CCl4 in a manner comparable to silymarin (105). LaxativesLaxatives: In animal study, two phytotherapeutic products that contained Coriandrum sativum powder (other ingredients of the two products included Cassia angustifolia, Cassia fistula, Tamarindus indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Senna alexandrina) enhanced rat feces elimination, with increased incidence of pasty feces (106).Photosensitizing agentsPhotosensitizing agents: A component of coriander, coriandrin, photosensitized mammalian cells in vitro, although not as strongly as psoralen (44). Cilantro/Herb/Supplement Interactions:
AntibacterialsAntibacterials: Although the majority of in vitro evidence indicates the cilantro has antibacterial properties (84; 85; 86; 87; 88; 89), in some assays, antibacterial activity was absent (90; 91). Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Aqueous extracts of coriander leaf inhibited human platelet aggregation in vitro (19).Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: In one human study, a lotion containing 0.5% coriander oil exhibited mild anti-inflammatory effects (1). AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal study, Coriandrum sativum (1g/kg of body weight) reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both synthesis and excretory phases in rats in a manner comparable with that of Liponil, a commercially available herbal hypolipidemic drug (92). AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In humans, there is limited evidence that coriander inhibits tumorigenesis (93; 94). In contrast, a basic stewing preparation (a mixture of red pepper and black pepper, garlic oil, caraway, and coriander) was determined to be a risk factor for developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (95). AntioxidantsAntioxidants: Extracts of Coriandrum sativum were potent inhibitors of lipid peroxide formation and scavengers of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals in animal study and in vitro study (107; 108; 109; 105; 21; 110). The aerial parts of cilantro showed higher values of antiradical power compared to the seeds (111). Thermal treatment reduced the total phenolic contents and antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging activities (96), which may explain why coriander extract acted as a pro-oxidant when used to preserve alpha-tocopherol in sunflower oil during heating (112). Antiulcer agentsAntiulcer agents: In animal study, oral Coriandrum sativum provided dose-dependent protection against the ulcerogenic effects of different necrotizing agents, ethanol-induced histopathological lesions, pylorus-ligated accumulation of gastric acid secretions, and ethanol-related decrease of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups (96).Chelating agentsChelating agents: Cilantro has been reported to remove mercury, lead, and aluminum from body tissues by accelerating their urinary excretion (94; 100). In a study in mice, localized lead deposition in femur and kidney as well as renal tissue damage was decreased by administration of cilantro (101). Cilantro is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to mobilize heavy metals stored in the brain and spinal cord and moving it into the connective tissues, although cilantro alone often does not remove mercury from the body; it often only displaces the metal's form intracellularly or from deeper body stores to more superficial structures, from where it can be more easily removed with other chelating agents (102). There is preliminary evidence from human study that cilantro may prevent the absorption of mercury contained in amalgam dental fillings (103). Animal study has shown that Coriandrum sativum has suppressive activity on lead deposition, probably resulting from the chelation of lead by some plant constituents (104). Cytochrome P450-metabolized agentsCytochrome P450-metabolized agents: Components of coriander (d-limonene and 1,8-cineole) inhibited midazolam (MDZ) 1'-hydroxylation and 4-hydroxylation of CYP3A4 activity in vitro in pooled human liver microsomes (97). Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal study, an intragastric perfusion of aqueous Coriandrum sativum extract caused a significant increase in acid secretion in anesthetized albino rats, which was significantly reduced with atropine treatment (98). Coriander also increased acid secretion in injured stomachs. In animal study, an Ayurvedic formulation containing Aegle marmeloes, Coriandrum sativum, Cyperus rotundus, and Vetiveria zinzanioides showed significant inhibitory activity against induced inflammatory bowel disease in a comparable manner to that of prednisolone (99). Hepatotoxic herbs and supplementsHepatotoxic herbs and supplements: In animal study, Coriandrum sativum extract protected the liver from oxidative stress and histological toxicities induced by CCl4 in a manner comparable to silymarin (105). HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Coriander has been reported to have hypoglycemic effects in preliminary research (6; 20). In an animal model of diabetes, Coriandrum sativum extract exhibited antihyperglycemic, insulin-releasing, and insulin-like activity (5). Oral administration of Coriandrum sativum extracts significantly reduced serum glucose levels in normal and diabetic rats (21). HypotensivesHypotensives: In animal study, coriander extracts caused a drop in arterial blood pressure in rabbits; in normotensive rats, the decrease was greater than 30% (22; 23). LaxativesLaxatives: In animal study, two phytotherapeutic products that contained Coriandrum sativum powder (other ingredients of the two products included Cassia angustifolia, Cassia fistula, Tamarindus indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Senna alexandrina) enhanced rat feces elimination, with increased incidence of pasty feces (106).PhotosensitizersPhotosensitizers: A component of coriander, coriandrin, photosensitized mammalian cells in vitro, although not as strongly as psoralen (44). Cilantro/Food Interactions:
SodiumSodium: According to reviews, coriander leaf contains a high level of sodium (3-9mg per 2g) (113). Cilantro/Lab Interactions:
Coagulation panelCoagulation panel: Aqueous extracts of coriander leaf inhibited human platelet aggregation in vitro (19).Blood pressureBlood pressure: In animal study, coriander extracts caused a drop in arterial blood pressure in rabbits; in normotensive rats, the decrease was greater than 30% (22; 23). Heavy metal levelsHeavy metal levels: Cilantro has been reported to remove mercury, lead, and aluminum from body tissues by accelerating their urinary excretion (94; 100). In one study in mice, localized lead deposition in femur and kidney as well as renal tissue damage was decreased by administration of cilantro (101). Cilantro is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to mobilize heavy metals stored in the brain and spinal cord and moving it into the connective tissues, although cilantro alone often does not remove mercury from the body; it often only displaces the metal's form intracellularly or from deeper body stores to more superficial structures, from where it can be more easily removed with other chelating agents (102). There is preliminary evidence from human study that cilantro may prevent the absorption of mercury contained in amalgam dental fillings (103). Animal study has shown that Coriandrum sativum has suppressive activity on lead deposition, probably resulting from the chelation of lead by some plant constituents (104). Insulin and glucose levelsInsulin and glucose levels: Coriander has been reported to have hypoglycemic effects in preliminary research (6). In an animal model of diabetes, Coriandrum sativum extract exhibited antihyperglycemic, insulin-releasing, and insulin-like activity (5). Oral administration of Coriandrum sativum extracts significantly reduced serum glucose levels in normal and diabetic rats (21). Lipid levelsLipid levels: In animal study, Coriandrum sativum reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both synthesis and excretory phases in rats in a manner comparable with that of Liponil, a commercially available herbal hypolipidemic drug (92). Sodium levelsSodium levels: According to reviews, coriander leaf contains a high level of sodium (3-9mg per 2g) (113).