Eryngium foetidum

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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.

Eryngium foetidum is also known as culantro; culantro coyote (Costa Rica); long, wild, or Mexican coriander; fitweed; spiritweed; duck-tongue herb; sawtooth or saw-leaf herb; cilantro cimarron; chardon benit (French chardon béni); shado, shadon, or shadow beni (English-speaking Caribbean); recao (Puerto Rico); sachaculantro (Peru); bhandhanya (Hindi); donnia; ngò gai (Vietnam); Txuj Lom Muas Loob los yog Nplooj Hniav Kaw (Hmong); and pak chi farang (Thai: ผักชีฝรั่ง).

In the United States, Eryngium foetidum grows naturally in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Florida, it is sold in grocery stores as a culinary herb. It is sold under the common name "culantro" (pronounced koo-lawn-tro).

Eryngium foetidum is also known as Eryngium antihystericum. The name Eryngium antihystericum reflects the fact that this plant has traditionally been used as a treatment for epilepsy. 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.

1 Usage
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

Usage

Eryngium foetidum foliage

E. foetidum is widely used in seasoning and marinating in the Caribbean. In the Carribean it is also referred to as "shadow benny" or "bandanya", these are the most common names throughout Trinidad. 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.

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.

Eryngial is a patented extract of Eryngium foetidum. 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).

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.
^ Distribution of Eryngium foetidum in the United States United States Department of Agriculture
^ 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.

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.