Ethnomedicine – Page 2

Coriander: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Cardiovascular Benefits

*Coriandrum sativum* L.: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé *Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz* 1885, Gera, Germany.

Simple Summary

The following is a simple summary of this recent review paper:

Mahleyuddin, N.N.; Moshawih, S.; Ming, L.C.; Zulkifly, H.H.; Kifli, N.; Loy, M.J.; Sarker, M.M.R.; Al-Worafi, Y.M.; Goh, B.H.; Thuraisingam, S.; et al. Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits. Molecules 2022, 27, 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010209.

1. Traditional Uses in Various Old-World Regions

Fruits (seeds)

Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and joint pain.
Some liver diseases (roasted seeds).
Dyspeptic complaints, as a digestive.
Loss of appetite, as an appetiser.
Convulsions.
Anxiety, insomnia.
As a diuretic.
“Melancholia”.
To lower blood glucose levels.
Influenza.
Bad breath.
Bad odour from genitalia.

Leaves

Mouth ulcer.
Eye redness.
“Melancholia”.
Digestive complaints, poor digestion.
To lower blood glucose levels.

Aerial parts

Viral infection.
Neurasthenia.

Whole plant

Measles.
Diabetes.
Aerophagy.
Gastroenteritis.
As a diaphoretic.
As a diuretic.
As a carminative.
As a stimulant.

Essential oil

Aa an aphrodisiac.
As an analgesic.
As an antimicrobial, mouth infections.
As a digestive stimulant.
Gastric ulcers.

Unspecified part(s)

As a diuretic, some renal diseases.
Anxiety; as a sedative and muscle relaxant.

2. Main Phytochemical Constituents

Fruits (seeds)

Carotenoids including β-carotene.
Tocols: α-, β-, γ- δ- tocopherols, and α-, γ-tocotrienols.
Fatty acids: Petroselinic linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids.
Sterols: Stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, δ-stigmasterol.
Volatile constituents: Linalool, camphor, geraniol.

Aerial parts

Carotenoids including β-carotene.
Phenolic acids: Ferulic, gallic and caffeic acids.
Benzoic acid derivative: Salicylic acid.
Coumarins: Esculetin, esculin, scopoletin, 4-hydroxycoumarin, umbelliferone, dicoumarin.
Flavonoids: hyperoside, rutin, hesperidin, vicenin, diosmin, luteolin, apigenin, orientine, dihydroquercetin, catechin, arbutin.

Essential oil

Linalool.
γ-terpenine.
α-pinene.

3. Physiological Effects of Phytochemicals from C. sativum

Flavonoids: A flavonoid-rich fraction was found to have hypotensive activity.

Quercetin (a flavonoid): A quercetin-rich aqueous ethanolic extract inhibits α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, and thus potentially has antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects.

Polyphenols: A polyphenol-rich extract inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme thus potentially has a antihypertensive effect.

Isocoumarins: Isocoumarin aglycones and (to a lesser degree) isocoumarin glycosides (cilantroside A and B) have been found to have neurotrophic / neuroprotective effects by stimulation of nerve growth factor. The aglycones of isocoumarins also showed anti-inflammatory effects.

Phenolic glycosides: The phenolic glycosides daphnin and benzyl-O-β-d-glucoside have also been found to stimulate nerve growth factor.

Sterols: Plant sterols have hypocholesterolaemic effects.

Essential oil: Prominent activities against diabetes, microbial infections, and inhibitory to acetylcholinterase.

Other: A linalool, ascorbyl palmitate and petroselinic acid-rich petroleum ether extract of coriander seeds reduces oxidative stress, is hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, and preventative against diabetic nephropathy.

4. Cardiovascular Benefits of C. sativum

A systematic review was carried out of studies investigating the potential cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum.

Studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective benefits of C. sativum. These include its effect as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, as well as the improvement of other factors that may lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as altered lipid profile, hyperglycaemia and cardiac biomarkers or enzymes.

Most of the studies included in the review were in vivo studies carried out on laboratory animals. Only two were human studies. These latter demonstrated hypolipidaemic, hypocholesterolaemic, hypotensive and antioxidant effects of coriander seed powder. As to plant parts, the majority of the studies included investigated the effects of the seeds. The two studies on the leaves showed hypolipidaemic, hypotensive, normoglycaemic and antioxidant effects.

The authors comment that more in vitro studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms of action.

Caper Leaves and Other Herbs for Cystitis in the Rif Mountains of Morocco

*Capparis spinosa* L. (caper). Royalty-free image from Pxfuel.com.

This study is an ethnobotanical review of herbs traditionally used to treat Cystitis in the Rif, Northern Morocco.

Mountain ranges of North Africa. From Wikimedia Commons.

Of the 60 plant species described, Capparis spinosa L. (caper) was the most commonly used – as a decoction of the leaves – followed by Apium graveolens L. (celery) – whole plant as an infusion – and Ziziphus vulgaris Lam. (jujube) – fruit, eaten.

Rif Mountains by Hamza.hayoun. From Wikimedia Commons.

A table summarising the study’s findings can be found here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43094-021-00226-2/tables/2.

Here is a link to the whole study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43094-021-00226-2.

Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants in Kerman Province, Iran

Roses in a flower garden, Kerman Province, Iran. Photo from Pxfuel. Public Domain.

The authors of this study surveyed the use by herbal healers of plant species found in Kerman Province, south-east Iran. They note that traditional (folk) medicine is a major component of healthcare in south-east Iran.

Kerman Province, Iran. Image from Wikipedia. Public Domain.

The study findings suggest that plants in the Asteraceae and Apiaceae families are used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, Lamiaceae plants for respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, and Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae plants for dermatological problems.

Photo of Rayen Citadel, Kerman Province, Iran, by Ninara, via Flickr. Creative Commons CC BY 2.0.

A full table of the medicinal plants identified and their uses by local herbal healers can be found here.

Hosseini, S.H., Bibak, H., Ghara, A.R. et al. Ethnobotany of the medicinal plants used by the ethnic communities of Kerman province, Southeast Iran. J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine 17, 31 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00438-z .

The Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) in Eastern Herbalism

In a previous post I presented a graphic about the Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) in Western Herbalism. This post complements that one, and deals with the use of the herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda.

If the image is too small for you to read the words, enlarge your window by holding down ‘Control’ and scrolling up with your mouse wheel.

1. https://www.meandqi.com/herb-database/stinging-nettle-leaves
Retrieved 19/05/2021.

2. Holmes P. (1993). The Energetics of Western Herbs, Vol. 1, Revised Second Edition. Berkeley, USA: NatTrop Publishing.

3. https://www.purushaayurveda.com/articles/2016/3/24/nettles-the-ayurvedic-perspective
Retrieved 19/05/2021.

Database of Traditional Cannabis Uses

Photo by cannabispictures via Flickr, reproduced according to Creative Commons licence CC BY 2.0.

This article presents a database of traditional uses of cannabis:

Balant M. et al. (2021). CANNUSE, a database of traditional Cannabis uses—an opportunity for new research. Database, Volume 2021, 2021, baab024, https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baab024 .

Here is the abstract of the article:

“Cannabis is one of the most versatile genera in terms of plant uses and has been exploited by humans for millennia due to its medicinal properties, strong fibres, nutritious seeds and psychoactive resin. Nowadays, Cannabis is the centre of many scientific studies, which mainly focus on its chemical composition and medicinal properties. Unfortunately, while new applications of this plant are continuously being developed, some of its traditional uses are becoming rare and even disappearing altogether. Information on traditional uses of Cannabis is vast, but it is scattered across many publication sources in different formats, so synthesis and standardization of these data are increasingly important. The CANNUSE database provides an organized information source for scientists and general public interested in different aspects of Cannabis use. It contains over 2300 entries from 649 publications related to medicinal, alimentary, fibre and other uses from different geographical areas and cultures around the world. We believe this database will serve as a starting point for new research and development strategies based on the traditional knowledge”.

Database URL: http://cannusedb.csic.es