Oregano, its nutritional composition, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-carcinogenic activity, antimicrobial activity, hypolipidemic activity and hypoglycemic activity
Description : Oregano is very popular aromatic herb belongs to Lamiaceae or mint family. The word oregano is
Article Details :
Oregano is very popular aromatic herb belongs to Lamiaceae or mint family. The word oregano is derived from a Greek word “oros” that means mountain and “ganos” that means delight. Oregano has been used for centuries to add flavor to dishes and it has been also used for numerous medicinal purposes.
Some important information regarding oregano
- Oregano is considered as one of the most important ingredients of Mediterranean cooking
- There are various types of oregano are available and the most common type is recognized as oregano vulgare, which is also known as wild marjoram and Spanish thyme
- It has olive-green coloured leaf and purple coloured flower. It is extremely popular for its flowering top and dried flavourful leaves
- Its fresh leaves and dried leaves both sare used in cooking and they often used as medicine as well
- Oregano contains various imperative components named carvacrol, terpinene, thymol, caryophyllene, limonene and ocimene, which are accountable for its characteristics flavor
Nutritional profile
- It contains desirable amount of carbohydrate and dietary fibres
- It also contains proteins and especially rich in some amino acids like tryptophan, valine, lysine and arginine
- It contains too some extent of fat as well
- Its macronutrient components are responsible for contributing modest amount of calorie
- It contains several vitamins like Vitamin A, E, K, C and B vitamins especially Vitamin B9
- It is loaded with various important trace elements also, which include calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese and selenium
- It contains numerous important plant compounds like thymol, β-fenchyl alcohol, limonene, carvacrol, caryophyllene, terpinene and ocimene, which are responsible for exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic activities
Biological activity
Antioxidant activity
- It is loaded with antioxidants thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for preventing oxidative stress
- It helps to decrease the concentration of free radicals within body, which ultimately reduces the susceptibility of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases etc
- It is also related with protecting the body from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation
- It helps to prevent cellular damages as well thus helps in promoting cellular activity
Anti-inflammatory activity
- Oregano helps in preventing inflammation by decreasing the concentration of inflammatory mediators in body, which are accountable for triggering inflammation
- Carvacrol component of oregano is considered as the main anti-inflammatory component
- It helps in relieving pain as well
- It is also associated with preventing joint swelling thus helps in improving the symptoms of arthritis. It is also related with treating autoimmune arthritis
Anti-carcinogenic activity
- Carvacrol as well as thymol components of oregano are accountable for exerting anti-carcinogenic activities
- We know that oxidative stress is considered as one of the leading causes of cancers and oregano plays vital role in decreasing oxidative stress hence its consumption is thought to be very much useful for reducing the prevalence of carcinoma
- It is also associated with protecting DNA from damages and also inhibits gene mutation, which ultimately decreases the risk of developing cancers
- It helps to destroy malignant cells and also plays significant role in suppressing their growth
- It helps to prevent metastasis as well
- It has seen that consumption of oregano is closely related with reducing the prevalence of skin cancer and breast cancer
Antimicrobial activity
- It exhibits strong antimicrobial activities, which help to inhibit the growth as well as the reproduction of microbes within host as a result decrease the risk of developing infectious diseases
- It is very effective against yeast and helps in suppressing their growth
- It is also associated with destroying bacterial cells and plays significant role in hindering the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria
- It is extremely useful for preventing food borne diseases and skin infections
Health benefits
Role on digestive health
- It plays vital role in promoting overall digestive health
- It helps to improve gut health as well
- It is very effective for inhibiting microbial infestation within gastrointestinal tract as a result decreases the prevalence of diarrhoea, abdominal distress, stomach cramping, flatulence, bloating, nausea, vomiting etc
- It helps to prevent indigestion as well