Coriander is most well known as a herb or spice used in cooking. However, coriander contains a number of phytochemicals that may influence the central nervous system. In this regard, coriander may be particularly effective as an anxiolytic agent and traditional medicine recommends coriander for this purpose. A number of animal studies have corroborated the use of coriander in traditional medicine. For example, in one study, researchers administered extracts of coriander to mice and then exposed the mice to experimental stress. The extracts used in the experiment consisted of the leaves of the plant boiled in water. At the 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg dose the coriander was significantly effective at decreasing the anxious behaviour of the mice. The effects of the coriander were similar to the effects of diazepam, which was used as the reference drug. The optimal therapeutic dose for humans is not known, but including coriander into the diet could bring significant improvements in mood.
The main phytoconstituents in coriander include linalool, linalyl acetate, thymol, β-caryphyllene, α-pinene, borneol, limonene, β-phellandrene, citronellol, 1, 8-cineole and geranyl acetate. Some of these phytochemicals have been shown to possess anxiolytic and mood elevating effects in isolation. Other chemicals that have not been isolated may also contribute to the central nervous system effects of coriander.
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