Key Constituents

Essential oil rich in carvacrol and thymol^{[1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12]}

Phenolic monoterpenes responsible for the strong antimicrobial activity.

Essential (volatile) oilTerpenes / terpenoidsCarvacrolThymol

Phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid) and flavonoids^[11]

Antioxidant constituents.

Rosmarinic acidPhenolic acidsFlavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[11, 12]}

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

Antifungal^{[1, 11, 12, 13]}

Antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal via carvacrol and thymol) - supports respiratory and gastrointestinal infections; a small clinical study found emulsified oregano oil cleared enteric parasites (incl. Blastocystis hominis) and improved gut symptoms

Antimicrobial^{[2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant^{[3, 9, 11, 12]}

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

Carminative^[11]

Carminative digestive for indigestion (traditional bitter aromatic)

Digestive aid^{[2, 11]}

Carminative digestive for indigestion (traditional bitter aromatic)

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →

Bloating^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from carminative action

more plants for bloating →detailed sources →

Cold & flu^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Aromatic support for coughs and colds (traditional)

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Cough^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Aromatic support for coughs and colds (traditional)

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Indigestion^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Carminative digestive for indigestion (traditional bitter aromatic)

more plants for indigestion →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[11, 12, 13]}Limited · 3/10

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Inflammation (general)^{[11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[11, 12, 13]}Limited · 3/10

inferred from antifungal action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[11, 12, 13]}Limited · 3/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[12]Caution

Culinary amounts are safe. Concentrated oregano essential oil is a strong irritant - dilute well before any topical use and do not take undiluted oil internally.

Safety note^[11]Caution

May lower blood sugar and has a mild antiplatelet effect, so use caution with antidiabetic or anticoagulant medicines; avoid medicinal/oil doses in pregnancy. Allergy is possible in people sensitive to the mint family (Lamiaceae).

References

REF-1447, REF-1448, REF-1449, REF-1450, REF-1451, REF-1452, REF-1453, REF-1454, REF-1455, REF-1456

References & Sources

Angiolella, L., Rojas, F., Mussin, J. and Giusiano, G (2023) 'Modulatory effect of Origanum vulgare essential oil and carvacrol on Malassezia spp. virulence factors', Medical Mycology, 61(3), pp. myad026. doi:10.1093/mmy/myad026 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myad026
Veenstra, J.P. and Johnson, J.J (2019) 'Oregano (Origanum vulgare) extract for food preservation and improvement in gastrointestinal health', International Journal of Nutrition, 3(4), pp. 43-52. doi:10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2703 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2703
Stojanovic, N.M., Mitic, K.V., Nesic, M., Stankovic, M. and others (2024) 'Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oil and Its Constituents Prevent Rat Kidney Tissue Injury and Inflammation Induced by a High Dose of L-Arginine', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(2), pp. 941. doi:10.3390/ijms25020941 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020941
Mertzanidis, D., Nakas, A., Assimopoulou, A.N. and Kokkini, S (2023) 'Unravelling the Chemotaxonomic Identity of 'White' and 'Black' Oregano (Origanum vulgare) in Northern Greece', Planta Medica, 89(4), pp. 433-440. doi:10.1055/a-1949-8895 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1949-8895
Kosakowska, O., Weglarz, Z., Styczynska, S., Synowiec, A. and others (2024) 'Activity of Common Thyme, Greek Oregano, and Common Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oils against Selected Phytopathogens', Molecules, 29(19), pp. 4617. doi:10.3390/molecules29194617 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194617
Hou, H., Zhang, X., Zhao, T. and Zhou, L (2020) 'Effects of Origanum vulgare essential oil and its two main components, carvacrol and thymol, on a plant pathogen', PeerJ, 8, pp. e9626. doi:10.7717/peerj.9626 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9626
Hao, Y., Li, J. and Shi, L (2021) 'A Carvacrol-Rich Essential Oil Extracted From Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Hot & Spicy') Exerts Potent Antibacterial Effects', Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, pp. 741861. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.741861 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.741861
Baranauskaite, J., Jakstas, V., Ivanauskas, L., Kopustinskiene, D.M. and others (2016) 'Optimization of carvacrol, rosmarinic, oleanolic and ursolic acid extraction from oregano herbs (Origanum onites L., Origanum vulgare spp. hirtum and Origanum vulgare L.)', Natural Product Research, 30(6), pp. 672-674. doi:10.1080/14786419.2015.1038998 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2015.1038998
Zinno, P., Guantario, B., Lombardi, G., Ranaldi, G. and others (2023) 'Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Origanum vulgare Genotypes Belonging to the Carvacrol and Thymol Chemotypes', Plants, 12(6), pp. 1344. doi:10.3390/plants12061344 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061344
Kolypetri, S., Kostoglou, D., Nikolaou, A., Kourkoutas, Y. and others (2023) 'Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Actions of Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) Essential Oil against Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes', Foods, 12(15), pp. 2893. doi:10.3390/foods12152893 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12152893
Soltani, S., Shakeri, A., Iranshahi, M. and Boozari, M (2021) 'A Review of the Phytochemistry and Antimicrobial Properties of Origanum vulgare L. and Subspecies', Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. doi:10.22037/ijpr.2020.113874.14539 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijpr.2020.113874.14539
Sharifi-Rad, M., Varoni, E.M., Iriti, M., Martorell, M., Setzer, W.N., del Mar Contreras, M., Salehi, B., Soltani-Nejad, A., Rajabi, S., Tajbakhsh, M. and Sharifi-Rad, J (2018) 'Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research. doi:10.1002/ptr.6103 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6103
Force, M., Sparks, W.S. and Ronzio, R.A (2000) 'Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo', Phytotherapy Research, 14(3), pp. 213--214. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(200005)14:3<213::AID-PTR583>3.0.CO;2-U Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(200005)14:3<213::AID-PTR583>3.0.CO;2-U

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