Oregano

Description

Oregano is an emblematic Mediterranean plant that belongs to the category of aromatic plants, just like rosemary and thyme.
Known since Antiquity for its medicinal properties, oregano was once used as a love potion.
Studies carried out on this plant have highlighted its active ingredients and its numerous properties. Oregano is a major anti-infectious plant acting mainly on the digestive sphere, thanks to the polyphenols it contains. Its flowering tops can be used in herbal medicine as well as in aromatherapy.
In herbal medicine, this plant is used for its antispasmodic action. It stimulates intestinal transit and helps fight bloating. The flavonoids in oregano, including rosmarinic acid, give it an antioxidant action which helps fight against free radicals responsible for cellular damage. Furthermore, thymol and carvacrol, two oregano molecules belonging to the phenol family, act in synergy and fight against the Escherichia coli bacteria. These two active ingredients induce the cessation of bacterial growth (bacteriostatic effect) but also the death of these bacteria (bactericidal effect).
Thymol and carvacrol are also present in oregano essential oil. The latter is mainly made up of phenols. It also contains monoterpenes and monoterpene alcohols. These molecules give it its antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic properties. Oregano essential oil also has a broad spectrum antibacterial action, that is to say it fights against both Gram + bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram - bacteria. (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). It acts not only on the digestive sphere but also on the urogenital and respiratory spheres. Oregano essential oil also has immunostimulating and tonic properties.

Benefits

Oregano contains many polyphenols with antioxidant properties. It acts on the digestive sphere to limit the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites) involved in infections.

Scientific publications

Oregano is the subject of more than 1316 scientific publications.