Plant Profile

Oregano

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Origanum vulgare

Family: Lamiaceae · Parts used: Aerial parts (leaf, herb) and essential oil · Also known as: Wild marjoram, Origanum

The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 14 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Perennial herb/subshrub (Lamiaceae), 20-80 cm tall, with square, often reddish, downy stems. Leaves are opposite, ovate and aromatic. Small purplish-pink (occasionally white) flowers are borne in dense, flattened, corymb-like clusters at the branch tips.^[11]

Height: 20-80 cm

Habit: Bushy, aromatic perennial herb/subshrub

Leaves: Opposite, ovate, aromatic

Flowers: Small, purplish-pink (occasionally white), in dense corymb-like terminal clusters

Stem: Square, often reddish, downy

Root: Fibrous, spreading perennial rootstock

Fruit: Four small nutlets (typical Lamiaceae schizocarp)

Flowering Period: July-September

Habitat & Distribution

Native to the Mediterranean, Europe and temperate Asia and widely naturalised elsewhere, growing on dry, sunny grassland, banks and scrubby hillsides, typically on calcareous soils.^[11]

Harvesting

Aerial parts are cut at or just before flowering (mid- to late summer), when essential-oil (carvacrol/thymol) content peaks, then dried quickly in the shade.^{[4, 9]}

Parts: Aerial parts (leaf, herb)

Season: Mid- to late summer, at or just before flowering

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, 14]}

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, 14]}

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^[12]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0485

Evidence: 2

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

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Bloating

inferred from carminative action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0485

Evidence: 1

Label: Bloating

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Indigestion

Carminative digestive for indigestion (traditional bitter aromatic)

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0485

Evidence: 1

Label: Indigestion

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Infection (general)^{[11, 12, 14]}Limited · 3/10

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1451, REF-1452

Evidence: 3

Label: Infection (general)

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Inflammation (general)^[12]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0485

Evidence: 2

Label: Inflammation (general)

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Skin irritation^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from antifungal action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0597

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

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Wounds^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0597, REF-1448, REF-1451, REF-1452

Evidence: 2

Label: Wounds

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Traditional Use & History

Oregano has a long Mediterranean culinary-medicinal tradition as an aromatic digestive bitter and antiseptic remedy for coughs, colds and infections. Modern research on its carvacrol- and thymol-rich essential oil strongly supports broad antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity, consistent with these traditional uses.^{[11, 12]}

Preparations

Infusion (tea)^[11]

Dried herb steeped in hot water as a digestive, aromatic tea.

Essential oil (diluted, topical/aromatic)^[12]

The most-studied form; concentrated oil is a strong irritant and must be well diluted before topical use and never taken undiluted internally.

Emulsified oil (oral, supervised)^[14]

A small clinical study used an emulsified oregano oil preparation to clear enteric parasites and improve gut symptoms; oral use of concentrated oil should be supervised.

Dosage

Culinary/infusion use^[12]

Culinary amounts (as a food seasoning or mild tea) are considered safe; concentrated essential oil should only be used well diluted and is not intended for undiluted internal use without professional guidance. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

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).

Harvest Readiness

^[13]

Part: aerial-parts

Signals: Cut the whole herb (not the roots) in late summer, or just before the plant begins to flower.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: harvest the whole plant (but not the roots) in late summer to dry and store for winter use

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3301); the whole flowering herb (not roots) is cut in late summer, or just before flowering (in flower July-September). Single lineage -> provisional.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

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
Plants For A Future 'Origanum vulgare (Oregano, Wild Marjoram)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Origanum+vulgare Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Origanum+vulgare
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

Selected studies & references

ClinicalInhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo source↗ (2000)

PreclinicalActivity of Common Thyme, Greek Oregano, and Common Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oils against Selected Phytopathogens source↗ (2024)

PreclinicalOregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oil and Its Constituents Prevent Rat Kidney Tissue Injury and Inflammation Induced by a High Dose of L-Arginine source↗ (2024)

PreclinicalChemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Origanum vulgare Genotypes Belonging to the Carvacrol and Thymol Chemotypes source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalChemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Actions of Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) Essential Oil against Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalModulatory effect of Origanum vulgare essential oil and carvacrol on Malassezia spp. virulence factors source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalUnravelling the Chemotaxonomic Identity of 'White' and 'Black' Oregano (Origanum vulgare) in Northern Greece source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalA Carvacrol-Rich Essential Oil Extracted From Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Hot & Spicy') Exerts Potent Antibacterial Effects source↗ (2021)

All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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