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Botany
Biennial herb
with thin, erect, grooved and angular stems. Leaves are bi- or
tri-laterally divided, dark green. Flowers are greenish yellow
compound umbels.
Distribution
Cultivated.
Part utilized
Leaves, seeds and
roots.
Constituents
and properties
• Considered
diuretic, emmenagogue, laxativer, hypotensive and tonic; seeds, carminative.
• Considered antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant.
• Contains apiol and myristicin which stimulates uterine contraction. Extracts of apiol have been tried as abortifacient.
Uses
Folkloric
Tea and juice of the
plant used for dropsy, gonorrhea, asthma, coughs and painful menstruations.
Also used for gallstones.
Decoction of seeds used for killing scalp vermin; dried powdered leaves
sprinkled on hair or used as ointment for lice.
Bruised leaves applied to contusions.
Juice of leaves used for blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
Poultice of leaves for stings and bites.
Elsewhere, used for dysuria.
Used to induce menstruation.
Decoction of fruits and seeds used for colic, indigestion and intestinal gas.
In Israeli traditional
medicine, seeds used for kidney stones and impotence.
In the French pharmacopeia,
root and leaves are used for dysmenorrhea and menstrual cramps.
In Turkey, used to reduce blood glucose.
In Brazil, used as a diuretic.
Culinary
A popular decorative
green sprig on restaurant entrees.
Studies
• Antioxidant: Study showed that parsley oil possessed a certain degree of antioxidant activities in terms of ß-carotene bleaching and free radical scavenging, with negligible metal chelating capacity. Myristicin was found to be the dominant compound that exhibited a moderate antioxidant activity. Results showed PO can be a potential alternative source of natural antioxidants.
• Hepatoprotective: Study showed that parsley has a significant hepatoprotective effect in diabetic rats.
• Antibacterial: Study of P crispum extract showed inhibitory effect at various concentrations against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It showed inhibitory effect against Br melitensis, E coli and B lichiniformis. Results confirm its use in folk medicine.
• Diuretic / Hypotensive: Study of the aqueous extracts of parsley seeds showed diuretic and hypotensive effects in anesthetized Wistar rats, confirming its traditional use in Brazil as a herbal diuretic.
Safety
Likely safe
when used in foods.
Classified GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) in the US.
Pregnancy: Likely unsafe. High concentrations are contraindicated
during pregnancy because it can be a potential abortifacient
and a uterine and menstrual flow stimulant.
Parsley oil, ingested orally can cause severe side effects because
of the apiole and myisticin constituents.
Contraindicated in patients with kidney inflammation or disease.
Toxicity includes hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura,
nephrosis, hepatic dysfunction and kidney irritation.
Source.
Natural Medicines. Comprehensive Database
Availability
Cultivated.
Essential oil in the cybermarket. |
