Oil derived from the aromatic coriander plant—one of the 20 most popular essential oils worldwide—has applications beyond aromatherapy as a food additive and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. Coriander oil’s reputed health benefits include relieving pain, easing cramps and convulsions, aiding digestion, curing nausea and fighting fungal infections.

Now, researchers from the University of Beira Interior, in Portugal, have specifically found that the oil is highly effective in killing bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella enterica, Bacillus cereus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Thus, coriander oil may be useful in preventing and treating food-borne illnesses. “Coriander oil could also become a natural alternative to common antibiotics,” says study leader Dr. Fernanda Domingues.

Source: Society for General Microbiology