There has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances, and some questions concerning the safety of synthetic compounds, therefore, detailed studies are being conducted on plant resources.
Oregano oil has long been used to improve the health. It has been made a part of the diet and can improve the health of various organs, which is generally attributed to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Oregano is the name used to refer to a great variety of plants that share a particular flavour and odor. At least 61 species and 17 genera belonging to six different botanical families are known as oregano.
Oregano Oil
Oregano is a plant that has been used as a food seasoning since ancient times. It is an aromatic plant widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean area and Asia.
The common name of oregano is given to several species: Origanum (family: Lamiaceae) and Lippia (family: Verbenaceae), amongst others [1].
The main compounds identified in the different oregano essential oils are carvacrol and thymol, which are responsible for the characteristic odor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity; however, their content may vary according to the species, harvesting season, and geographical sources [1].
BENEFITS OF OIL OF OREGANO
Treatment of Tumors
Cancer has emerged as one of the most alarming diseases in the last few decades throughout the world. It is a multifactorial disease contributing towards uncontrolled growth and invasion of the abnormal cells leading to the formation of tumor.
The steep rise in the number of cancer cases may be attributed to the change in food habits, use of tobacco and alcohol, chronic infections, exposure to harmful radiations and chemicals, or more widely due to change in lifestyle and environmental pollution [2].
Drugs used in cancer treatment target the cancer cell by inducing apoptosis or cell cycle arrest [2]. Essential Oils, such as, oregano oil with therapeutic potential can act by two ways that can prevent chemo and suppress cancer cells.
A study on chemically induced liver cancer in rats showed chemopreventive action of carvacrol, found in oregano oil [3]. Similarly, thymol in oregano oil has also showed anti-cancer properties [4].
Tip: Oregano oil has shown anti-cancer properties in rats.
Treatment of Herpes and Other Viruses
The effectiveness of antiviral therapy sometimes is limited by the development of antiviral resistance. Antiviral drug resistance has increased in parallel with the expanded use of, and indications for, antiviral therapy. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) cause prevalent, chronic infections that have serious outcomes in some individuals.
Essential oils, used for treatment of herpes, might interfere with virion envelope structures which are necessary for adsorption to or entry into host cells or might dissolute the HSV envelope.
Treatment of HSV-1 with oregano essential oil has been shown to disrupt the viral envelope [5]. Another study showed that the essential oil and various extracts obtained from Origanum acutidens, which is a species of oregano, and methanol extracts inhibited reproduction of HSV-1 virus [6].
Similarly, it can also treat other viruses. Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by the yellow fever virus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Aedes or Haemagogus mosquitoes [7].
A study showed inhibitory effect of oregano oil on yellow fever [8]. It can also be used for the treatment of human norovirus [9].
Tip: Some studies have suggested that oil of oregano can treat Herpes simplex virus, yellow fever & norovirus
Anti-Microbial
Bacterial antimicrobial resistance to most conventional antibiotics has become a clinical and public health problem. Therefore, there is crucial need for research and development of new drugs with potential to combat resistant strains of bacteria.
Oregano Essential Oil, extracted mainly from the leaves of the herb O. vulgare by ecofriendly methods, has been reported as having broad antibacterial activity [10].
Studies have shown that oregano oil has the potential to prevent food from being contaminated and control worrisome hospital infections [11].
It can also be used applied to food products to inhibit growth of Staphylococcus aureus and suppresses the syntheses of its enterotoxins [12].
Treatment of Skin Diseases
The skin is the body's largest mechanical barrier against the external environment and invasion by microorganisms.
Oregano Oil is used for the treatment of athlete’s foot, bacterial infections, cuts, eczema, fungal infections, psoriasis, warts and wounds [13].
Although direct application of essential oils can cause skin irritation or even burns therefore, they should be used in combination with a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil.
Anti-oxidant Properties
Oxidative stress is the disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defences and it can lead to potential damage. This can cause damage to the DNA, cell death, increased cell proliferation etc.
A research showed a free radical scavenging activity, that is antioxidant activity, by essential oils of oregano [14].
Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is a normal biological response of the body to tissue damage, infections and chemical or physical agents. Study showed that thymol and carvacrol obtained from the three Mexican oregano species, L. graveolens, L. palmeri and H. patens can treat inflammatory diseases [15].
Carvacrol has also shown the ability to prevent obesity in mice by modulating expression of genes involved in inflammation [16].
For Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that is accelerated by various factors such as smoking, diabetes and inflammation. Essential oils are natural compounds that have been studied for their biological activities such as anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects.
The major cause of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis. Studies show anti-inflammatory effect of oregano extracts and their compounds in a cellular model of atherosclerosis [17].
HOW TO USE OIL OF OREGANO
Oil of oregano is usually a very potent oil and when topically applied it can cause skin irritation or burns. Hence it should be diluted with a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil. You should experiment with the least dosage first before increasing the dosage. You should not require more than 2-4 drops of this essential oil is it is quite potent.
Only a food grade version that is organic can be ingested by first talking to a health care professional. You would again dilute a drop of oil of oregano (to begin) with a table spoon of another carrier oil like an extra virgin olive oil and then ingest it orally. You can slowly increase your dosage to about 2-4 drops. Oil of oregano is also available in capsule form which can be bought online or from other health stores if you would prefer to take that route. Oil of oregano may not taste the best, so capsules could be your best option.
Pregnant woman and children should not ingest oil of oregano however you may topically use it to ward of any skin infections by diluting it with a carrier oil. Be sure to test the smallest dosage possible on a test area to make sure your skin is not allergic to oil of oregano.
Tip : Oil of oregano is quite potent and can cause skin irritations or allergic reactions. Make sure to dilute it with a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil.
Conclusion
In spite of the many benefits of essential oils from oregano, it has been reported that they can exert adverse effects, such as allergic reactions, increase risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders etc. As a consequence, pre-clinical studies are needed to ensure the security of the use of these compounds in humans.
Still, it largely is considered safe, with a very good therapeutic potential.
As stated above it can be used for the treatment of herpes. Acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) are generally used for its treatment but they have large amount of side effects. Oregano oil can act as a better substitute.
Similarly, it can also be used for cancer treatment and many other diseases. Keeping, in view of its benefits oregano oil is choice for a healthier lifestyle.
References
| [1] | R.-G. I. S.-E. B. O.-R. L. L. J. . S. M. C.-V. M. G.-A. G. and A.-Z. J. , "Oregano Essential Oil as an Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Additive in Food Products.," Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2016. |
| [2] | N. Gautam, . A. K. Mantha and S. Mittal, "Essential Oils and Their Constituents as Anticancer Agents: A Mechanistic View," BioMed Research International, 2014. |
| [3] | J. S. . M. A. A. S. . R. S. . G. d. K. K. S. D. M. and . D. T. , "Potential preventive effect of carvacrol against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.," Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2012. |
| [4] | D. D. . P. G. . S. D. S. and C. T. , "Effect of thymol on peripheral blood mononuclear cell PBMC and acute promyelotic cancer cell line HL-60.," Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2011. |
| [5] | S. . Y. M. . M. E. A. M. H. and M. N. A.-A. , "Effect of essential oils on the enveloped viruses: antiviral activity of oregano and clove oils on herpes simplex virus type 1 and Newcastle disease virus," Medical Sciences, 1996. |
| [6] | S. M. . S. J. D. D. . G. M. P. M. T. B. . A. H. S. F. and . S. A. , "In vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities of the essential oil and various extracts from herbal parts and callus cultures of Origanum acutidens.," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2004. |
| [7] | M. T. and B. A. , "Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of yellow fever.," Advances in Virus Research, 2003. |
| [8] | R. Meneses, . R. E. Ocazionez, . J. R. Martínez and E. E. Stashenko, "Inhibitory effect of essential oils obtained from plants grown in Colombia on yellow fever virus replication in vitro," Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials , 2009. |
| [9] | G. D. . K. M. T. J. and . B. K. , "Antiviral efficacy and mechanisms of action of oregano essential oil and its primary component carvacrol against murine norovirus.," Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2014. |
| [10] | B. S, "Essential oils: their antibacterial properties and potential applications in foods--a review.," International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2004. |
| [11] | S. H. . H. J. . L. Z. and Z. Z. , "Antibacterial effect of oregano essential oil alone and in combination with antibiotics against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.," FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology , 2008. |
| [12] | d. S. E. d. B. J. d. O. C. and d. C. M. , "Influence of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil on enterotoxin production, membrane permeability and surface characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus.," International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2010. |
| [13] | A. Orchard and S. . v. Vuuren , "Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases," Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017. |
| [14] | M. K. C. J. . S. M. . L. S. B. S. and K. M. , "Essential oils of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. glandulosum (Desf.) Ietswaart from Tunisia: chemical composition and antioxidant activity.," Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2010. |
| [15] | L.-L. N. . N. V. . B. W. . C.-Z. L. and . H. J. , "Protective role of terpenes and polyphenols from three species of Oregano (Lippia graveolens, Lippia palmeri and Hedeoma patens) on the suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.," Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2016. |
| [16] | C. S. C. Y. . P. S. and P. T. , "Carvacrol prevents diet-induced obesity by modulating gene expressions involved in adipogenesis and inflammation in mice fed with high-fat diet.," The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry , 2012. |
| [17] | O.-F. A. . A.-G. E. S. F. and . R. G. , "Supercritical fluid extraction of oregano (Origanum vulgare) essentials oils: anti-inflammatory properties based on cytokine response on THP-1 macrophages.," Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2010. |
| [18] | S. H. H. J. L. Z. and Z. Z. , "Antibacterial effect of oregano essential oil alone and in combination with antibiotics against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.," FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology , 2008. |
