Parsley contains essential vitamins, flavonoids, and essential oils that contribute to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bone health, immune support, and detoxifying properties. Traditionally used across various cultures for its medicinal properties, parsley's efficacy is also supported by modern clinical research.
Appearance
Parsley is a bright green, biennial herb with curly or flat leaves.
The plant has slender stems and the leaves are divided into multiple small leaflets. The curly-leaf variety has tightly crinkled leaves, while the flat-leaf variety has smooth, broad leaves. Growing Regions
Parsley is native to the Mediterranean region but is now cultivated worldwide.
It thrives in temperate climates and prefers well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. Primary Compounds
Compounds
Parsley contains several bioactive compounds, including:
Flavonoids: Such as apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, which have antioxidant properties.
Vitamins: High in vitamins A, C, and K.
Essential Oils: Including eugenol and myristicin.
Chlorophyll: Provides detoxifying benefits.
Carotenoids: Including beta-carotene and lutein.
Health Benefits
Antioxidant Properties
The flavonoids and vitamins in parsley act as powerful antioxidants, protecting cells from damage by free radicals and reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
Parsley's flavonoids and essential oils have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation and potentially lower the risk of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Bone Health
Vitamin K in parsley is crucial for bone health. It helps with bone mineralization and has been linked to improved bone density and a lower risk of fractures.
Immune Support
High levels of vitamins A and C in parsley support the immune system by enhancing immune responses and protecting against infections.
Detoxification
Chlorophyll and other compounds in parsley help detoxify the body by supporting liver function and promoting the elimination of toxins.
Diuretic Properties
Parsley has been traditionally used as a diuretic to help reduce water retention and support kidney function.
Traditional Uses in Medicine
Mediterranean Region: Used as a remedy for digestive issues and to freshen breath.
Europe: Traditionally used for its diuretic properties and to treat urinary tract infections.
Middle East: Incorporated into diets to support digestion and boost overall health.
India: Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to support kidney and liver health.
Research
Research studies have explored the health benefits of compounds found in parsley, such as flavonoids, vitamins, and essential oils, focusing on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and overall health-promoting properties.
Hungarian researchers have confirmed that Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) contains significant anti-inflammatory properties, boosts liver health, is antioxidant and even anti-carcinogenic. It also supplies numerous nutrients and relaxes smooth muscles.
The research found that parsley contained numerous nutrients and bioactive constituents, including several flavonoids and cumarins. One flavonoid called apigenin has been shown to provide significant anti-tumor properties, as well as the ability to slow inflammation and neutralize oxidative radicals (free radicals). Its ability to stop tumor growth lies in its ability to block tumors from creating blood vessels.
Research published last December from China’s Jiangsu Polytechnic College of Agriculture and Forestry found that apigenin also blocked the action of MEK kinase 1, which in turn prevented bladder cancer cells from migrating and thus inhibited tumor growth.
Cumarins are natural blood thinning agents, as they provide anti-coagulating properties. This can aid circulation, especially in cases of edema (swelling). However, the cumarin content in Parsley is minor, and balanced by its many other nutrients. So it does not come with the side effects known for wayfarin and other isolated anti-coagulants.
The ability of Parsley to relax smooth muscles appears to come from its blocking of the polymerization of actin. This has significant importance to asthmatics, as a severe asthmatic attack will accompany the over-contraction of the smooth muscles around the lungs. Relaxing those smooth muscles is one key component of urgent care in asthmatic attacks.
Other bioactive constituents in Parsley include eugenol, crisoeriol, luteolin and apiin. Eugenol has been used by traditional doctors as an antiseptic and pain-reliever in cases of gingivitis and periodontal disease, and has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics.
Parsley’s ability to encourage healing has also been shown in numerous studies.
For example, a study published this past February from Turkey’s Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine found that increased parsley consumption was associated with fewer complications after hematopoietic (bone marrow) stem cell transplantation in children.
In this study, the diets of 41 children who underwent the stem cell transplantation were analyzed. Improved outcomes were seen among those eating more Parsley, as well as those children who ate onions, bulgur, yogurt and bazlama (a Turkish yeast bread).
Parsley is also rich in numerous antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, lutein, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, folate and is one of the greatest sources of vitamin K, with 1640 micrograms per gram – over 12 times the U.S. DRI (dietary reference intake) of 90-120 micrograms per day. One hundred grams of Parsley also contains more than double the RDA for vitamin C and almost triple the RDA of vitamin A.
These antioxidant nutrients have been shown in other research to reduce the oxidation of lipids, relating directly to vision disorders, heart disease, dementia and other inflammation-related conditions.
REFERENCES
Pápay ZE, Kósa A, Boldizsár I, Ruszkai A, Balogh E, Klebovich I, Antal I. Pharmaceutical and formulation aspects of Petroselinum crispum extract. Acta Pharm Hung. 2012;82(1):3-14.
Liu Q, Chen X, Yang G, Min X, Deng M. Apigenin inhibits cell migration through MAPK pathways in human bladder smooth muscle cells. Biocell. 2011 Dec;35(3):71-9.
Tavil B, Koksal E, Yalcin SS, Uckan D. Pretransplant nutritional habits and clinical outcome in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Exp Clin Transplant. 2012 Feb;10(1):55-61.
Farzaei MH, Abbasabadi Z, Ardekani MR, Rahimi R, Farzaei F. Parsley: a review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities. J Tradit Chin Med. 2013 Dec;33(6):815-26. doi: 10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60018-2. DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60018-2