Dhanyaka
Coriandrum sativum L.
Dhanyaka (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a plant drug, also called Dhanyakam, Dhanika and Dhanya, from the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. Not individually listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; recognized in European, British, and Indian pharmacopoeias; GRAS status by FDA.
| Botanical name | Coriandrum sativum L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) · other entries in this family |
| Order | Apiales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not individually listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; recognized in European, British, and Indian pharmacopoeias; GRAS status by FDA |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3034871 · Wikidata Q41611 · NCBI Taxonomy 4047 |
| Sanskrit | धान्याकम् (dhānyākam), Dhanika, Dhanya, कुस्तुम्बरी (kustumbarī), Vitunnaka |
|---|---|
| Hindi | धनिया (dhaniyā) |
| English | Coriander fruit |
| Tamil | கொத்தமல்லி, Dhaniya, Kottamalli virai |
| Malayalam | Kothampatayari, Malli |
| Telugu | Dhaniyalu |
| Kannada | Havija, Kothambari bija |
| Marathi | Dhane, Kothimbir |
| Bengali | Dhane |
| Gujarati | Dhana |
| Urdu | Kishneez |
| Punjabi | Dhania |
| Oriya | Dhania |
| Assamese | Dhaniya |
| Kashmiri | Dhaniwal |
Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary: 'the plant coriander, [Suśruta]'; Apte/DDSA: 'The धान्याक plant', quoting Suśruta आर्द्रां कुस्तुम्बरीं कुर्यात्.; University of Madras Tamil Lexicon: 'Coriander, Coriandrum sativum'; Winslow: 'Coriander seed, Coriandrum sativum, L.'; Fabricius; India Flora Online Tamil 'Kotthamalli'.; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Dhaniya [धनिया] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Coriandrum sativum from the Apiaceae (Carrot) family'; DDSA Practical Hindi-English Dictionary: 'Dhaniyā (nm) coriander'.; Wisdom Library nighantu index: 'Dhānyaka (धान्यक) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Coriandrum sativum Linn.', with synonyms Dhanika, Dhanya, Vitunnaka, Kustumburu.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2015 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 12Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Dhanyaka |
| Latin/Botanical | Coriandrum sativum L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Linalool (60-80% of seed essential oil - primary active)
- Gamma-terpinene
- Decanal
- Geranyl acetate
- Camphor
- Quercetin and rutin (flavonoids)
- Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid (phenolics)
- Coumarins
- Tocopherols
- Fatty acids (petroselinic acid - unique)
How does it work?
- Anxiolytic and neuroprotective mechanism through linalool-mediated modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission and glutamate receptor inhibition, reducing neuronal excitotoxicity
- Hypoglycemic mechanism through stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells and enhancement of peripheral glucose uptake, mediated by flavonoid and essential oil fractions
- Antimicrobial mechanism through linalool disruption of bacterial cell membrane integrity and inhibition of efflux pump activity, showing broad-spectrum activity
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Deepana-Pachana: traditionally used in digestive disorders (Agnimandya). Clinical and preclinical studies have reported digestive and carminative activity.
- Traditionally used as a cooling and calming herb. Animal studies have reported a dose-dependent reduction in anxiety markers.
- Prameha (diabetes): traditionally used in Prameha. In vivo studies and some clinical studies have reported hypoglycemic activity.
What do recent studies show?
- Chaurasia PK, Bharati SL 2025. Coriander: A holistic outlook on its chemistry and pharmacology. Food chemistry. PMID 39719783 · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142444
Holistic review documenting the full phytochemical spectrum including essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids, with emphasis on pharmacological mechanisms and drug delivery advancements.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Widely consumed spice with GRAS status; generally safe at culinary and traditional therapeutic doses; rare cases of contact dermatitis and photosensitivity reported with fresh coriander leaf handling
- High-dose essential oil ingestion may cause hepatic or renal effects; potential interaction with antidiabetic medications due to hypoglycemic potential; contraindicated in known Apiaceae allergy
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Linalool
- Decanal
- Camphor
- Quercetin
- Rutin
- Flavonoids
- Coumarins
- Tocopherols
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Hima (cold infusion), Tablet, Capsule, Essential oil, Arka (distillate)
Standard Dosage: 3-6g seed powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction or cold infusion twice daily; 500mg extract capsule twice daily; essential oil: 1-3 drops in carrier
Optimal Timing: After meals as digestive aid; before meals for appetite stimulation; Hima (cold infusion) throughout the day for Pitta conditions and burning sensation
Storage: Whole seeds in airtight containers at room temperature. Powder: airtight, moisture-proof containers below 25 deg C - use quickly after grinding. Essential oil: amber glass, cool place, nitrogen headspace.
Marker Compounds: Linalool, Geraniol, Geranyl acetate, Camphor, Rutin, Quercetin, Coumarins
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews12
- 2025. Coriander: A holistic outlook on its chemistry and pharmacologyFood chemistry. PMID 39719783 · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142444
- 2023. Coriandrum sativum and Its Utility in Psychiatric DisordersMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37513187 · doi:10.3390/molecules28145314
- 2023. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Polyphenols and Their Nutraceutical Value against Obesity and Metabolic SyndromeMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37241925 · doi:10.3390/molecules28104187
- 2023. Essential Oil from Coriandrum sativum: A review on Its Phytochemistry and Biological ActivityMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36677754 · doi:10.3390/molecules28020696
- 2022. Ethnobotanical and phytochemical aspects of the edible herb Coriandrum sativum LJournal of food science. PMID 35279837 · doi:10.1111/1750-3841.16085
- 2022. Agri-biotechnology of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.): an inclusive appraisalApplied microbiology and biotechnology. PMID 35080667 · doi:10.1007/s00253-022-11787-4
- 2021. Plants Used as AntihypertensiveNatural products and bioprospecting. PMID 33174095 · doi:10.1007/s13659-020-00281-x
- 2021. Neuroprotective effects of Coriandrum sativum and its constituent, linalool: A reviewAvicenna journal of phytomedicine. PMID 34745916 · doi:10.22038/AJP.2021.55681.2786
- 2021. Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular BenefitsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35011441 · doi:10.3390/molecules27010209
- 2019. Phytochemical and bioactive profile of Coriandrum sativum LFood chemistry. PMID 30827604 · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.01.171
- 2018. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): A promising functional food toward the well-beingFood research international (Ottawa, Ont.). PMID 29433220 · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.11.019
- 2015. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and its bioactive constituentsFitoterapia. PMID 25776008 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2015.03.012
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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