Page 24 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

5- Coriander

Coriander is the dried nearly ripe fruits of Coriandrum sativum. family
Umbelliferae.
Geographical distribution:
Coriander is cultivated in Russia, Hungary, Northern Africa, Malta, and
India.
Macroscopic characters
The drug usually consists of the whole cremocarps.
Each cremocarp is sub-spherical, 2.3-4.3 mm in diameter, nearly glabrous,
straw-yellow or brown sometimes with purplish tint and crowned by 5 small
sepals and a short conical stylopod.

The dorsal surface of each mericarp shows: 5 inconspicuous wavy primary
ridges and 4 more prominent straight secondary ridges.

The T.S. of fully ripe mericacrps shows only 2 vittae in the commissural side
but no vittae on the dorsal one. An almost complete ring of crossing
sclerenchymatous sheath in the dorsal side, 4 small cavities (in place of the 4
vitae), 5 small vascular bundles ( as few vessels) under each primary ridge,
a large oily coelospermous endosperm and a small curved apical embryo.

Organoleptic properties:
Coriander has aromatic odour and aromatic spicy characteristic taste.
The unripe fruit is characterized by a strong disagreeable odour.

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