Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Coriander for chelation of heavy metals

Coriander for chelation of heavy metals

Baphomet - 20-11-2006 at 18:49

Coriander (or Cilantro for those in North America) has been found to exhibit the ability to chelate mercury, lead and aluminium in the blood of humans. The discovery was made by one Dr. Yoshiaki Omura while he was researching antibiotics.

Chelates are organometallic compounds consisting of one or more metal ions attached to an organic molecule. Generally the metal ion is 'bound' in a chelation rather than becoming a free radical in solution. Some metals are stored in the body until such time as they become chelated and exit the body via urine. Dr. Omura noticed the mercury level in the urine increased after patients consumed Vietnamese soup containing coriander leaves, and further research showed similar results for lead and aluminium.

In the absence of large doses, the greatest risk posed by heavy metals is that of long term accumulation within the body. Over time the levels of metals may build up, and unless the body is allowed to excrete the substances, there can be devastating consequences for an individual's health.

This has been known for some time, yet amalgam has still not been banned for use in tooth fillings in Australia and some dentists continue to use it! To me, this defies belief.

I think that any chemists who work with heavy metals (especially mercury!) should consume coriander on a regular basis. Here's a receipe I use to make pesto:

2 large bunches coriander
Juice of 2 lemons
Rind of 1/2 a lemon
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil

[Edited on 21-11-2006 by Baphomet]

chemoleo - 20-11-2006 at 19:09

Yes, coriander appears to contain an active ingredient for metal chelation.

The quesiton is, do you know what the active ingredient is?

I'd love to find out. It does not appear to be researched much.

Baphomet - 20-11-2006 at 20:59

Good question.. no idea. I'd guess it might be similar to EDTA which can be used for the same purpose. But that's pure speculation.

JohnWW - 21-11-2006 at 19:36

If it can chelate Pb and Hg, and other heavy metals, it should be able to chelate Tl as well - see the thread on Tl poisoning in the Miscellaneous section. I thought that coriander, like dill, fennel, parsley, celery, etc., used as flavorings in salad dishes, owed their taste to terpenoid compounds like selinine, with are either terpenes or terpenols. However, thse compounds are not known as strong chelating agents for heavy metals. The strongest chelating compounds for such heavy metals (but not Al) are likely to be mercaptans or thio-aminoacids.

gil - 16-12-2006 at 18:14

Who checked if the heavy metals wheren't introduced BY the coriander,absorbing it from polluted soil, industial contamination,or a garden at the side of a heavy traffic road? Any double blind conducted over the matter?
And please don't call that in your recipe PESTO as it's not!! :mad:

Verymuch not.FAAAR from :mad:

[Edited on 17-12-2006 by gil]

Baphomet - 20-12-2006 at 23:08

Thanks for the input Gil. True to form, you missed the point completely. Don't you think they verified that the coriander was free of mercury before giving it to patients?

And that IS pesto

not_important - 20-12-2006 at 23:33

Given the background of Yoshiaki Omura, it would not surprise me that the coriander was not tested beforehand. Healing people through the use of paper exposed to sunlight at sunrise or sunset, then wrapped in aluminium foil, seems to be the sort of science that could overlook little things like checking materials before the start of an experiment.

Many plant organic acids and polypeptides have chelating abilities. Eating foods high in sulfur containing amino acids also helps eliminate heavy metals.

gil - 25-12-2006 at 09:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Baphomet
Thanks for the input Gil. True to form, you missed the point completely. Don't you think they verified that the coriander was free of mercury before giving it to patient.

[Edited on 25-12-2006 by gil]
They didn't check for heavy metals before making or consuming it, no more than you do. If isn't underlined I don't assume it's been done.Merry Cristmas anyway!

[Edited on 25-12-2006 by gil]

gil - 25-12-2006 at 09:55

Quote:

No really, isn't pesto. Would you like an original recipe?

Sauron - 25-12-2006 at 10:00

The classic anti-heavy metal therapeutic, BAL, dates from WWI when it was developed to counter the possible use of arsenical CW agents such as Lewisite. BAL stands for British Anti Lewisite. If you are curious the compound is in Merck Index 12th Ed. and probably 13th as well. Chemists at risk of chronic or acute heavy metal poisoning (as well as former KGB agents who knock Putin) should read up on it. Well, maybe it wouldn't have saved THAT guy.