Oil of Oregano

Introduction Origanum vulgare (the scientific name of oregano) has been studied in depth due to a number of interesting and exciting potential clinical uses. There is also an ongoing interest in a number of industries to replace synthetic chemicals with natural products that have similar properties. Many bioactive compounds can be found in aromatic plants, and there are a number of different ways they can be extracted. In one study, the major components of oregano essential oils were found to be carvacrol, beta-fenchyl alcohol, thymol, and gamma-terpinene.[1] A hot-water extraction was found to be the best method of extracting antioxidant properties and provided the highest phenolic content. This study also tested the oregano extracts against seven bacterial cultures, but they were ineffective. However, the essential oil itself was able to inhibit the growth of all bacteria, causing greater reductions on both Listeria strains that were tested.