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Bolivian Coriander is a herb native to South America, especially Bolivia, Peru, and surrounding regions.
It is not a true coriander (Coriandrum sativum) but is used in a similar culinary manner.
Synonyms:
Quirquiña,Papalo ,Summer Cilantro,False Coriander,Porophyllum ruderale subsp. macrocephalum , Papaloquelite ,Pápalo
Taxonomy and Botanical Characteristics
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Porophyllum
Species: ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.
Morphology:
A fast-growing annual herb reaching 30–60 cm in height.
Leaves are pinnately lobed or deeply dissected, bright green, with a strong aromatic smell.
Flowers are small, yellow to greenish, arranged in clusters typical for Asteraceae.
The plant thrives in warm climates and is native to the Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru, and northern Argentina.
Habitat & Distribution:
Native to South America, cultivated widely in Bolivia and neighboring countries.
Grows wild and is cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes.
Thrives in well-drained soils, tolerant to drought, and grows best in full sun.
Chemical Composition and Phytochemistry
Essential Oil Profile
Extraction Method:
Steam distillation of fresh or dried leaves commonly used to obtain essential oil.
Yields vary from 0.2% to 1.5% depending on season and geographic origin.
Major Chemical Constituents:
Limonene (25-40%): A cyclic monoterpene with citrus aroma.
β-Myrcene (10-25%): An acyclic monoterpene contributing to herbal, balsamic notes.
Piperitone (5-15%): A monoterpene ketone responsible for minty-camphoraceous aroma.
Thymol (2-7%): A phenolic monoterpene with known antimicrobial activity.
Carvone (3-8%): A monoterpene ketone with spearmint-like scent.
Caryophyllene (1-5%): A sesquiterpene with woody, spicy aroma.
Minor Components:
α-Pinene, β-Pinene, Sabinene, Geraniol, Eugenol, and others present in trace amounts.
Non-Volatile Phytochemicals
Flavonoids: Quercetin, kaempferol derivatives.
Phenolic acids: Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid.
Saponins and alkaloids: Trace amounts detected, potentially contributing to medicinal properties.
Analytical Techniques for Composition Analysis
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS):
Used for volatile essential oil profiling; provides qualitative and quantitative data of constituents.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC):
Used for non-volatile flavonoids and phenolic acids quantification.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR):
Identifies functional groups in extracts.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR):
Structural elucidation of isolated compounds.
Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms
Antimicrobial Activity
Essential oils show strong inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa).
Activity attributed mainly to thymol, piperitone, and limonene disrupting microbial membranes.
Antioxidant Properties
Flavonoids and phenolic acids contribute to radical scavenging activity measured by assays like DPPH and ABTS.
Protects cells from oxidative stress, potentially preventing inflammatory diseases.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Extracts inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX).
Reduction in cytokine production (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6) observed in cell-based models.
Insecticidal and Repellent Activity
Volatile compounds like limonene and piperitone act as natural repellents against mosquitoes and other pests.
Used traditionally to protect crops and stored food.
Traditional and Culinary Uses
Fresh leaves used widely in Bolivian cuisine for flavoring sauces, soups, and salads.
Popular herb in Mexican gastronomy as well, often called papalo.
Traditional medicine uses include treatment of digestive issues, colds, and skin infections.
Cultivation and Agronomy
Soil: Well-drained, sandy to loamy soil, pH 6.0–7.5 preferred.
Propagation: Seeds sown directly or via nursery seedlings.
Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant once established.
Pests/Diseases: Generally resistant; occasional fungal infections under high humidity.
Harvest: Leaves harvested before flowering for best flavor and oil content.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BOLIVIAN CORIANDER
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
