Greek Oregano, in bloom, reaches a height of almost two feet. Like all culinary oreganos, its flower is white. Its leaves are coarse, oval, and fuzzy. Leaves are about 5/8 inch long; they are dark green when fresh and light green when dried.
The name "oregano" means "delight of the mountain" and has its origins in the ancient Greek "ori" (mountains) and "ganousthai" (delight ).
Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. A Cretan oregano (O. dictamnus) is still used today in Greece as a palliative for sore throat.
Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, due to a high
content of phenolic acids and flavonoids In test-tube studies, it also has shown
antimicrobial activity against strains of the food-borne pathogen Listeria
monocytogenes.
In the traditional Austrian medicine Origanum vulgare herb
has been used internally (as tea) or externally (as ointment) for treatment of
disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and nervous system.
In 2005, the US Federal Trade Commission brought legal action against a firm
that had claimed oil of oregano treated colds and flus, and that oil of oregano
taken orally treated and relieved bacterial and viral infections and their
symptoms, saying the representations
were false or were not substantiated at the time the representations were made,
and that they were therefore a deceptive practice and false advertisements] The
final stipulation on the matter said no representation as to any health benefit
could be made without "…competent and reliable scientific evidence…
What are the health benefits of OreganoOriganum vulgare -
harilik pune
Oregano has a very pleasant aromatic scent.
The herb is used to treat respiratory tract disorders,
gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, menstrual cramps, and urinary tract disorders.
The herb is also applied topically to help treat a number of
skin conditions, such as acne and dandruff.
Oregano contains: fiber, iron, manganese, vitamin E, iron,
calcium, omega fatty acids, manganese, and typtophan.
Oregano is also a rich source of:
Vitamin K - an important vitamin which promotes bone growth,
the maintenance of bone density, and the production of blood clotting proteins.
Dietary antioxidants - a report published in the Journal of
Nutrition revealed that oregano contains very high concentrations of
antioxidants1 (i.e., >75 mmol/100 g).
Antioxidants help protect your cells against the effects of
free radicals and improve your ability to fight infection.
Antibacterial properties Oregano-spice
Sprinkle oregano on your food to give it
flavor and reap the health benefits. Oregano has shown
antimicrobial activity in a number of studies. A group of Portuguese
researchers found that Origanum vulgare essential oils were effective against
41 strains of the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes2.
Oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, because it contains
an essential compound called carvacol.
A team of British and Indian researchers reported that the
essential oil of Himalayan oregano has strong antibacterial properties that can
even kill the hospital superbug MRSA.
Professor Vyv Salisbury, who was part of the research, said
"We have done a few preliminary tests and have found
that the essential oil from the oregano kills MRSA at a dilution 1 to 1,000.
The tests show that the oil kills MRSA both as a liquid and as a vapor and its
antimicrobial activity is not diminished by heating in boiling water."
Anti-inflammatory properties
Scientists at Bonn University, Germany, and the ETH Zurich,
Switzerland, identified an active ingredient in oregano - known as
beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP) - which may possibly be of use against disorders such
as osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis.
Protecting against cancer Biologists at the United Arab
Emirates University reported in the journal PLoS ONE that oregano exhibits
anticancer activity by encouraging cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (cancer
cells commit suicide) of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line.
The scientists concluded "Our findings identify
Origanum majorana as a promising chemopreventive and therapeutic candidate that
modulate breast cancer growth and metastasis." Put simply, they believe
components in oregano may help slow down or prevent the progression of cancer3
in patients with breast cancer.
