Coriander is one of the spices that we often use to add more flavour to our cooking. Its sharp taste is the main attraction. Not only can the seeds be used, but the leaves from coriander can also be used as ingredients.

Aside from being a meal, coriander has long been used as traditional medicine. Coriander is known to help treat various diseases, from stomach aches, nausea, to preventing kidney stones and seizures. Coriander leaves are also often used as anticonvulsants (drugs that can help restore cell stimulation stability) which make them useful to prevent seizures and relieve pain associated with nerve disorders.

Previously, there was no definitive explanation of how these herbs work as anticonvulsants. However, a recent study conducted by the University of California-Irvine can help answer that question. The researchers found that coriander leaves can activate potassium channels in the brain that help reduce the seizure activity that occurs in nerve cells.

In their study, the researchers found that coriander leaves contain a component called dodecenal, which can bind to the potassium found in the brain. Dodecenal can activate several potassium channels at once and is responsible for regulating electrical activity in the brain and heart. The component was also found to be able to act as an anticonvulsant by delaying chemically induced seizures.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Manville, R.W., and Abbott, G.W., (2019). Cilantro leaf harbors a potent potassium channel-activating anticonvulsant. FASEB Journal, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201900485R.
• Science Daily - New study explains the molecular mechanism for the therapeutic effects of cilantro (2019). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190722132511.htm, 23 July 2019.