Eryngium foetidum
| Culantro | |
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| Eryngium foetidum leaves | |
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| (unranked): | |
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| Species: | E. foetidum
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| Binomial name | |
| Eryngium foetidum | |
Eryngium foetidum is a tropical perennial and annual herb in the family Apiaceae. It is native to Mexico and South America but is cultivated worldwide. In the United States, where it is not well known, the name culantro sometimes causes confusion with Coriandrum sativum (also in Apiaceae), the leaves of which are known as cilantro, and which culantro is even said to taste like.[1]
Common names
In English-speaking Caribbean Countries Eryngium foetidum is also referred to as shadon, shado beni (or shadow benny), or bandanya (in Trinidad).
Other common names include: culantro (Panama); culantro de pata (Honduras); culantro coyote (Costa Rica); cilantro ancho (Dominican Republic); alcapate (El Salvador); long, wild, or Mexican coriander; samat (Guatemala); culantro burrero (Venezuela); fitweed; spiritweed; duck-tongue herb; sawtooth or saw-leaf herb, sawtooth coriander; cilantro cimarron; chardon benit (French chardon béni); recao (Puerto Rico); sachaculantro (Peru); bhandhanya (Hindi); donnia; Template:Lang-si Andu-kola,[2] ngò gai (Vietnam); Txuj Lom Muas Loob los yog Nplooj Hniav Kaw (Hmong); and pak chi farang (Template:Lang-th); pak horm phay (Lao: ຜັກຫອມເປ).
Uses
Culinary
E. foetidum is widely used in seasoning and marinating in the Caribbean, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago. It is also used extensively in Thailand, India, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia as a culinary herb. This variety of coriander dries well, retaining good color and flavor, making it valuable in the dried herb industry. It is sometimes used as a substitute for cilantro, but it has a much stronger taste.
In the United States, Eryngium foetidum grows naturally in Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.[3] It is sold in grocery stores as a culinary herb under the common name "culantro" (pronounced /kuːˈlɑːntroʊ/)
Medicinal
Ethnomedicinal uses include treatment for burns, earache, fevers, hypertension, constipation, fits, asthma, stomach ache, worms, infertility complications, snake bites, diarrhea and malaria.[4] Eryngium foetidum is also known as Eryngium antihystericum.[5] The name Eryngium antihystericum reflects the fact that this plant has traditionally been used as a treatment for epilepsy.[6] The plant is said to calm a person's spirit and thus prevents epileptic fits (seizures). The plant is therefore known by the common names spiritweed and fitweed. The anticonvulsant properties of this plant have been scientifically investigated.[7]
Medicinally, the leaves and roots are used in tea to stimulate appetite, improve digestion, combat colic, soothe stomach pains, and eliminate gas. A decoction of the leaves has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.[8]
Eryngial is a patented extract of Eryngium foetidum.[9] Dr. Ralph Robinson, a Professor of Parasitology at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, has investigated the use of Enyngial as a treatment for human Strongyloides stercoralis infection (strongyloidiasis).[10] A fraction of the essential oil rich in eryngial is the subject of a US patent application for its effectiveness against parasitic trypanosomes, nematodes, fungi and bacteria in humans and other mammals.[11]
See also
- Cuban cuisine
- Cuisine of the Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rican cuisine
- Thai cuisine
- Vietnamese cuisine
References
- ^ Ramcharan, C. (1999). "Culantro: A much utilized, little understood herb". In: J. Janick (ed.), Perspectives on new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, Virginia; p. 506–509.
- ^ Botany-sinhala website
- ^ Distribution of Eryngium foetidum in the United States United States Department of Agriculture
- ^ Paul J.H.A., Seaforth C.E., Tikasingh T. "Eryngium foetidum L.: A review" Fitoterapia 2011 82:3 (302-308)
- ^ Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
- ^ Culantro, in Herbalpedia, a publication of The Herb Growing & Marketing Network.
- ^ Simon OR, Singh N. "Demonstration of anticonvulsant properties of an aqueous extract of spirit weed, Eryngium foetidum L." West Indian Medical Journal, 1986; 35: 121–5.
- ^ M. T. Sáenz, M. A. Fernández, M. D. García. "Antiinflammatory and analgesic properties from leaves of Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae)" Phytotherapy Research, Volume 11, Issue 5, p. 380–383.
- ^ Yarnell, A. "Home Field Advantage" Chemical & Engineering News, June 7, 2004. Volume 82, Number 23, p. 33.
- ^ Eryngial as a treatment for strongyloidiasis.
- ^ Paul J.H.A., Seaforth C.E., Tikasingh T. "Eryngium foetidum L.: A review", Fitoterapia 2011 82:3 (302-308)
External links
- Long Coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) page from Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages
- Mexican Coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) page Information on the various common names of "Long Coriander" & cultivation tips.