Coriander Oil Kills E. Coli, MRSA: Study

The herb coriander -- also known as cilantro -- may be more than just a garnish or ingredient in your favorite dishes. The oil from its seeds could also combat serious bacteria like E. coli and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a new study suggests.

Scientists from the University of Beira Interior, in Portugal, found that a solution containing less than 1.6 percent of coriander oil was able to kill or at least slow down the growth of 12 bacterial strains, including E. coli, MRSA, salmonella and Bacillus cereus. Many of the strains cause food poisoning.

Coriander oil works by causing membrane damage to the bacteria, leading to cell death, according to the Journal of Medical Microbiology study.

Now, researchers said the oil could be used to help fight drug-resistant bugs -- it also has the potential to fight food-borne diseases by being added to food additives, TIME reported.

Coriander is commonly used in both Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, and has long been revered for its medicinal properties, researchers said. It's known as a home remedy for aiding with digestion, relieving feelings of nausea and helping to stop cramps.

There are other herbs that have also shown promise in fighting infection. A 2003 study by Australian scientists showed that basil essential oil is an effective antimicrobial against bacteria, mold and yeast, while a 2006 review from Tufts University researchers revealed that peppermint effectively works as an antimicrobial and antioxidant.

For more on how herbs can help your health, click here.

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Comments

[brothers keeper]

07:44 AM on 08/30/2011

This is great news for me. I am very susceptible to the MRSA bacteria. Since Jan. 2, 2008 I have been hospitalized 4 times with the disease—once for 5 weeks. This is an extremely bad infection and often causes death. The usual treatment is an IV drip of Vancomycin. After I was released from the hospital the 2nd time, I was treated with the pill form of the antibiotic—Zyvox, which is extremely expensive (about $5,000). The first infection was in my left buttock. Minor surgery was performed on it 3 times and for months afterward I had to undergo wound management. While still in the ER I also had to be transfused. The wound was extremely painful. If coriander truly does protect against MRSA it is a godsend; since there are only a handful of antibiotics to treat it. It is methocillin resistant.

[beauley]

08:11 PM on 08/28/2011

Disease Prevention Using Simple Herbs and Spices
The goal of just about everyone on this earth is to be disease free all of our lives.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2349460/disease_prevention_using_simple_herbs.html?cat=68

[2FewRealNewz]

07:08 PM on 08/25/2011

Cilantro is also a good herb for moving mucus out of the body. Also when juiced, it cools the body down in extremely hot climates.

[sabelmouse]

12:44 PM on 08/25/2011

i've got a lovely soap called ; no 13 , unlucky for dirt , with oregano , that was developed for nurses originally and MRSA .
http://www­­.lush.co.­u­k/shop/p­ro­duct/pr­odu­ct/pat­h/14­3_181­/id/5­93/h­andmad­e-b­ath-soa­ps­-13-soap­-­%28unlucky­­-for-dirt­%­29
i don't know how well it works but it smells delicious

[eyelashviper]

06:37 PM on 08/24/2011

Cilantro is also one of the few things that will leach mercury from your body. It smells and tastes wonderful, great with most any food, even sprinkled in salad.

[onionboy]

04:30 PM on 08/24/2011

In my experience, it might also prevent STDs. Eat enough during a dinner date...and your chances of getting laid drop precipitously.

[NoraHuffposter]

06:13 PM on 08/24/2011

Heh :)

[onionboy]

06:36 PM on 08/24/2011

Cilantro is one of those spices that has no slope in terms of how it can ruin a dish. Just enough...perfect. One sprig more...and the whole plate will taste like cilantro and the whole kitchen will smell like it. Basil, oregano...they're so much more forgiving for the non-recipe cooks like me.

[mtwa]

02:53 PM on 08/24/2011

And pharma companies are wondering how they can patent these natural herbs right about now.

[MaxineFox]

10:39 PM on 08/24/2011

You hit the nail on the head! and why we don't hear more about these types of remedies.

I wish the author would elaborate more on whether or not cilantro itself, not just the seed, has anti-bacterial properties?? Sounds like both are being suggested but not sure from the context.

Maxine Fox
http://reverse-diabetes-naturally.blogspot.com/

[seerickson]

04:33 PM on 08/26/2011

They've been trying for twenty years to do just that but can only patent preparation and standardization methods, so then they try to limit or outlaw information about how to use herbs directly at least on the herb's packaging. This is after failing to get legislation passed to make it illegal to sell herbs. LOL. Now, their idea is to make them drugs and are obsessed with figuring out the "active" ingredient, which is kind of ironic since almost all drugs were originally derived from an organic compound found in a plant, then synthesized, manufactured and prepared as an overdose without it's natural context.