Petroselinum crispum (Parsley)

Question 1

How do you recognise Parsley?

Answer 1

A biennial herbaceous plant, curled and flat leaved varieties are the same species.

Question 2

What are Parsley’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents: • Flavones; luteolin, apigenin-anti inflammatory, antispasmodic, anticancer, neuroprotective, antibacterial. • Flavonoids: rutin, quercetin
• Volatile oils: Apiole mainly in root, menthatriene mainly in leaf, Limonene, eugenol. • Coumarins; bergapten, psoralen, pthalides. • Iron and other minerals.

Question 3

What family is Parsley in?

Answer 3

A member of the Apiaceae.

Question 4

What is Parsley good for?

Answer 4

Leaves used in cooking, leaves, seeds & roots used medicinally. • Dosage 10 – 20ml/week 1:3 of root tincture. Actions: • Digestive. • Diuretic, kidney and bladder tonic. • Anti -spasmodic and carminative. • Anti rheumatic. • Uterine tonic and hormonal regulator. • Emmenagogue. • Antimicrobial. • Anti-inflammatory. Applications: • Warming aromatic aid to digestion. • Colic in children. • Kidney (& bladder) stones (root, sometimes seeds). • Benign prostatic hypertrophy. • PMT. • Menopausal symptoms. • Rheumatoid arthritis & gout. • Urinary tract infections. Applied externally for bruises & swellings; for inflamed & infected eyes; for mastitis.

Question 5

What is Parsley Latin name?

Answer 5

Petroselinum crispum

Question 6

What parts of Parsley do you use?

Answer 6

Leaves, seeds & roots used medicinally.

Question 7

What safety issues might Parsley have?

Answer 7

• Possibly abortifacient – avoid in pregnancy.

Question 8

What useful research does Parsley have?

Answer 8

External links:Most research seems to be horrible experiments on rats. This review seems badly translated (in the conclusion it refers to parsley as pseudomonas crispum!), but contains some useful information, including its reference list: • Parsley: a review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities