Medicinal plants have therapeutic potential due to the presence of natural antioxidants functioning as reducing agents, free radical scavengers and quenchers of singlet oxygen. Majority of their antioxidant activity is due to bioactive compounds viz. flavones, isoflavones, flavonoids, anthocyanins, coumarins, lignans, catechins and isocatechins. Currently there has been an increasing interest to identify the antioxidants that are pharmacologically potent with low or no side effects for use in preventive medicine. Spices have been recognized to possess several medicinal properties (diuretic, expectorant, laxative, anti-bacterial, anti-pyretic etc.) and have been effectively used in the indigenous systems of medicine in India and other countries. Apart from the traditional use, a no. of beneficial physiological effects have been identified by extensive animal studies. Among these are their beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, efficiency as antidiabetics, ability to stimulate digestion and to inhibit platelet aggregation, antioxidant, antilithogenic and anti-inflammatory potential. Many spices and their active principles are reported as excellent nutraceuticals. Coriander is among such most commonly used spices, possessing the nutritional as well as medicinal properties, widely distributed and mainly cultivated for the seeds which contain an essential oil and the monoterpenoid-linalool. Coriander is used in the preparation of many household medicines to cure bed cold, seasonal fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach disorders and also used as a drug for indigestion, against worms, rheumatism and pain in the joints. Many of healing properties of coriander can be attributed to its exceptional phytonutrients and hence, it is often referred to as store house for bioactive compounds.

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Oxidative stress, a pervasive condition of increased number of reactive oxygen species, is now recognized to be prominent feature of various diseases and their progression. The relationship between antioxidants and levels of well-known markers of oxidative stress, measured as lipid peroxides and oxidized proteins reflect health indices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The present study included 60 patients selected using standard questionnaire based on age, family history, Body Mass Index (BMI), dietary intake, with no other complications and 30 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. The median age of myeloid leukemia patients was 43 years and that of controls was 42 years. Out of 60 myeloid leukemia patients, 30 were in acute and 30 were in chronic state. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status were evaluated in the patients and in the controls by assessing standard oxidative stress markers viz. plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxide levels in terms of malondialdehyde and oxidized proteins as protein carbonyls whereas antioxidant status was assessed in terms of serum non enzymatic antioxidant levels. There was a significant increase (p < 0.01) in plasma and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia patients as compared to healthy subjects. Antioxidant status as indicated by the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants viz. erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH), serum β carotene, vitamin A & C and ceruloplasmin was found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in both the leukemia patients as compared to healthy participants. However, chronic myeloid leukemia patients had significantly (p < 0.05) higher oxidative stress and lower antioxidant status as compared to acute myeloid leukemia patients.

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