The fruits of Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) are used as a spicing and flavoring agent in food products and are also recommended as a drug in the treatment of digestive tract disorders. The safety of botanicals and botanical preparations used as food supplements is of great interest, as the market of such products is expanding worldwide.
Aim: In this study, aimed at assessing the safety of coriander as food ingredient, we investigated the phytotoxicity of fruit extracts on Triticum aestivum L.
Material and methods: We studied the effects of methanolic coriander fruit extracts, Omagiu cultivar (VI-V3; three dilutions: 1%, 2.5% and 5% in distilled water), upon germination, elongation, and accumulation of fresh and dry biomass in the plants; also it was investigated the influence of the extracts on mythosis in root tissues.
Results and discussions: The extracts did not influence the germination and growth of test plants and did not inhibit root and shoot elongation of wheat plants (a 20% increase in root length over the control being registered for V2 1%). Frequency of aberrant anaphases and telophases in Triticum aestivum L. varied slightly around the percentage of the control, the highest percent of aberrant chromosomes (5.07 %) being observed in V3 2.5%.
Conclusions: The investigated coriander fruit extracts did not have phytotoxic effects but had a slight stimulating effect on germination and growth of Triticum aestivum L.