Coriander fruits are fully dried ripe fruits of the plant, Coriandrum sativum of the family Umbelliferae.
Coriander plant is cultivated in India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. It is also cultivated in European countries like Russia, Hungary, Holland, Egypt and Morocco.
In Andhra Pradesh it is cultivated in the districts of Guntur and Anantapur. In Maharashtra it is cultivated in the districts of Jalgaon and Satara. In West Bengal it is grown in the districts of Howrah and 24-Paragana.
Coriander fruits are yellowish brown to brown in colour with aromatic odour and spicy taste.
Chemical constituents:
Coriander fruits contains volatile oil, fixed oil and proteins. The chief component of the volatile oil is D-linalool (coriandrol) and coriandryl acetate. It also contains minute amounts of L-borneol, geraniol and pinene. Coriander leaves contain Vitamin A (Retinol) in large quantities.
Uses:
- Aromatic
- Carminative
- Stimulant
- Flavouring agent
- Coriander oil is used along with the purgatives to prevent gripping.
- Coriander oil is an ingredient of compound spirit of orange and cascara elixir.
Coriander fruits are substituted by Bombay coriander fruits which contain less amount of volatile oil.
