Key Constituents

Flavonoids (apigenin) and other phenolics^{[1, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents.

FlavonoidsPhenolic compoundsApigenin

Essential oil (apiole and myristicin)^[11]

Aromatic constituents that drive the diuretic action but are toxic in large amounts.

Essential (volatile) oil

Furanocoumarins (bergapten, imperatorin)^[12]

Photosensitising constituents; the basis for the mild phototoxicity caution.

Coumarins

Vitamin C and carotenoids^[11]

Nutritive antioxidant constituents.

Carotenoids

Pharmacological Actions

Antioxidant^{[1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective

Carminative^[11]

Carminative digestive and stomach tonic (bloating, indigestion)

Digestive aid^{[6, 7, 11]}

Carminative digestive and stomach tonic (bloating, indigestion)

Diuretic^{[11, 12, 13]}

Diuretic - reduces fluid retention/swelling and supports urinary and kidney function (traditionally used for urinary stones); animal studies attribute the effect to inhibition of the renal Na+/K+ pump, raising urine flow

Hepatoprotective (liver support)^{[3, 5, 8, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective

Nephroprotective (kidney support)^{[9, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Bad breath^[11]Moderate · 5/10

Breath freshener (chlorophyll-rich; traditional for bad breath)

more plants for bad breath →detailed sources →

Bloating^[11]Moderate · 5/10

Carminative digestive and stomach tonic (bloating, indigestion)

more plants for bloating →detailed sources →

Detox / cleansing^{[11, 12]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from hepatoprotective action

more plants for detox / cleansing →detailed sources →

Indigestion^[11]Moderate · 5/10

Carminative digestive and stomach tonic (bloating, indigestion)

more plants for indigestion →detailed sources →

Kidney support^{[9, 11, 12]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from nephroprotective action

more plants for kidney support →detailed sources →

Liver support^{[3, 11, 12]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from hepatoprotective action

more plants for liver support →detailed sources →

Swelling / fluid retention^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →

Urinary support^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Caution

Culinary amounts are safe, but medicinal/seed doses and the essential oil (apiole, myristicin) can be toxic and stimulate the uterus - AVOID medicinal doses of parsley in pregnancy.

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Its diuretic action means caution alongside diuretic medicines; the furanocoumarins can cause mild photosensitivity, and concentrated use should be avoided in active kidney disease.

References

REF-1486, REF-1487, REF-1488, REF-1489, REF-1490, REF-1491, REF-1492, REF-1493, REF-1494, REF-1495

References & Sources

Ebrahimi, P., Bayram, I., Lante, A. and Decker, E.A (2024) 'Acid-hydrolyzed phenolic extract of parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) leaves inhibits lipid oxidation in soybean oil-in-water emulsions', Food Research International, 187, pp. 114452. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114452 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114452
Ertik, O., Pazarbasi, S.E., Sener, G. and Sacan, O (2023) 'Petroselinum crispum Extract Prevents Scopolamine-Induced Lens Damage in Rats', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 20(11), pp. e202300776. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202300776 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202300776
Ede, S., Ozbeyli, D., Erdogan, O., Cevik, O. and others (2023) 'Hepatoprotective effects of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) extract in rats with bile duct ligation', Arab Journal of Gastroenterology, 24(1), pp. 45-51. doi:10.1016/j.ajg.2022.10.006 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajg.2022.10.006
Mara de Menezes Epifanio, N., Rykiel Iglesias Cavalcanti, L., Falcao Dos Santos, K., Soares Coutinho Duarte, P. and others (2020) 'Chemical characterization and in vivo antioxidant activity of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) aqueous extract', Food & Function, 11(6), pp. 5346-5356. doi:10.1039/d0fo00484g Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo00484g
Ozsoy-Sacan, O., Yanardag, R., Orak, H., Ozgey, Y. and others (2006) 'Effects of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) extract versus glibornuride on the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 104(1-2), pp. 175-181. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.069 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.069
Moazedi, A.A., Mirzaie, D.N., Seyyednejad, S.M., Zadkarami, M.R. and others (2007) 'Spasmolytic effect of Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) on rat's ileum at different calcium chloride concentrations', Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(22), pp. 4036-4042. doi:10.3923/pjbs.2007.4036.4042 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2007.4036.4042
Al-Howiriny, T., Al-Sohaibani, M., El-Tahir, K. and Rafatullah, S (2003) 'Prevention of experimentally-induced gastric ulcers in rats by an ethanolic extract of 'Parsley' Petroselinum crispum', The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 31(5), pp. 699-711. doi:10.1142/S0192415X03001405 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X03001405
Nair, V.Y., Balakrishanan, N. and Antony Santiago, J.V (2015) 'Petroselinum crispum extract attenuates hepatic steatosis in rats fed with fructose enriched diet', Bratislava Medical Journal, 116(9), pp. 547-553. Preclinical
Find this source
Maodaa, S.N., Allam, A.A., Ajarem, J., Abdel-Maksoud, M.A. and others (2016) 'Effect of parsley (Petroselinum crispum, Apiaceae) juice against cadmium neurotoxicity in albino mice', Behavioral and Brain Functions, 12(1), pp. 6. doi:10.1186/s12993-016-0090-3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-016-0090-3
Ganea, M., Vicas, L.G., Gligor, O., Sarac, I. and others (2024) 'Exploring the Therapeutic Efficacy of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) as a Functional Food: Implications in Immunological Tolerability, Reduction of Muscle Cramps, and Treatment of Dermatitis', Molecules, 29(3), pp. 608. doi:10.3390/molecules29030608 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030608
Bahramsoltani, R., Ahmadian, R., Daglia, M. and Rahimi, R (2024) 'Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (Parsley): An Updated Review of the Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06429 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06429
Mahmood, S. and Hussain, S. and Malik, F (2014) 'Critique of medicinal conspicuousness of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): a culinary herb of Mediterranean region', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 27(1), pp. 193--202. Preclinical
Find this source
Kreydiyyeh, S.I. and Usta, J (2002) 'Diuretic effect and mechanism of action of parsley', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79(3), pp. 353--357. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(01)00408-1 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(01)00408-1

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