Coriander Seeds The use of coriander can be traced back to 5,000 BC, making it one of the world's oldest spices used by mankind. coriander seeds, is the seed of coriandrum sativum, which belongs to the parsley family. The coriander seeds are almost round in shape and brown to yellowish red in color. Coriander (also called cilantro) contains an antibacterial compound that may prove to be a safe, natural means of fighting Salmonella, a frequent and sometimes deadly cause of foodborne illness. Coriander is considered both an herb and a spice since both its leaves and its seeds are used as a seasoning condiment.