Oregano

Parts use: aerial portions

⁶Active constituents: essential oil c. 2% (incl. phenols up to 63% including carvacrol, thymol, borneol), monoterpenes 7-10% which include (paracymene, terpinenes, cymene, caryophyllene,pinene), linalyle/geranyl acetate, 1.8 cineol, bitters, tannins, coffeic/urslic/rosmarinic acids, resins, gum. Its effective qualities are pungent, bitter, warm, dry, relaxing, stimulating, dispersin.

⁷The phenols carvacrol, thymol, borneol are antimicrobials that can inhibit growth of food borne pathogens. The molecules with the highest anti-bacterial coefficient are: carvacrol and thymol.

Those which possess the strongest antibacterial action are also active on fungi. However, treatment must be over a longer period. The general properties are positizing, tonic and stimulation, powerful broad-spectrum anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, anitfungal, antiparasite, immune system stimulant, hyperthermizing.

⁸Monoterpenes, including paracymene, terpinenes, cymene, caryophyllene, pinene are powerful, broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, immunostimulant, fungicide and mycobactericide, parasiticide, positizing, neurotonic, general tonic and stimulant (mental, physical, sexual).

This biochemical family is very important because of its frequent use in a large number of microbial, viral and fungal pathologies. It is used almost systematically and is undeniably useful in almost all cases. While the solvent properties of monoterpenes have been exploited clinically to dissolve gallstones,' the monoterpenes are also the focus of much investigation in the areas of both cancer prevention and therapy. The MT's, found in essential oils, are such points of light, offering some hope in the struggle to prevent and treat cancer. That is to say, the MT's can act before a cancer is established and in the cases where cancer is already present, they can cause a regression of the tumor, oftentimes completely. In fact, levels of tumor regression as high as 81% have been achieved for small mammary carcinomas and up to 75% for advanced mammary carcinomas. They do this in at least six ways. First, during the initiation phase of carcinogenesis they induce (cause the body to make more of) Phase I and II carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, resulting in carcinogen detoxification. An example of such a Phase II enzyme would be glutathione S-transferase. Second, post-initiation phase, they have been shown to increase cell re-differentiation. This causes the potential cancer cells to take on a more normal morphology. Third, they can induce apoptosis in otherwise immortalized cells. Fourth, they have been shown to inhibit the isoprenylation of the cellular products of oncogenes. Simply put, the proteins from oncogenes, which on the whole are cell-growth regulating proteins, need to be modified (referred to as "post-translational modification") by a process called prenylation in order to be placed in a membrane where they are active. If the proteins from oncogenes do not undergo isoprenylation, they do not cause the cell to behave as a cancer cell and hence cancer inhibition results. It is believed that this prenylation inhibition occurs at both the farnesyl and geranylgeranyl transferases. Fifth, MT's have been shown to inhibit the conversion of lathesterol to cholesterol, resulting in positive therapeutic results due to the fact that many tumor cells are deficient in oxidative phosphorylation and use glycolysis as the sole energy source. Sixth, the MT's have been shown to enhance activation of inhibitory growth factors such as TGF[beta], which has been suggested to potentially inhibit breast cancer cells.

⁹Lynalyle and geranyl acetate are Esters which are responsible for the characteristic fragrances of the flowers and volatile oils. They are formed by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol in the volatile oil. They posses medicinal properties which are mostly sedative and antispasmodic and generally non-irritant and mild, but can be an irritant when other volatile oils are present in the plant. Properties are balancing and soothing. Generally esters are mildly electro-negative and have neutral polarity. They exhibit a spasmolytic and soothing effect via a CNS reaction and are anti-inflammatory and fungicidal. Esters are spasmolytic, fungicidal, soothing to the skin, and anti-inflammatory.

¹⁰1,8-cineole, also called eucalyptol, is a major component of camphor-scented essential oils found in plants. It is a well-known remedy for the discomfort of bruises, sprains, and pulled muscles because it stimulates blood circulation near the point of application. Recent clinical research has demonstrated 1,8-cineole's effectiveness in reducing inflammation and pain, and in promoting leukemia cell death.

¹¹Bitter create a range of physiological responses which occur following stimulation of the bitter receptors of the tongue. The taste of bitterness, and no doubt many subtleties of which we are consciously unaware, is transmitted by specific taste buds at the back of the tongue to the central nervous system, triggering a number of reflexes. These reflexes have important ramifications, all of value to the digestive process and general bodily health. There is a stimulation of the flow of digestive juices from the exocrine glands of mouth, stomach, pancreas, duodenum and liver, aiding in good digestion of food as well as a range of conditions that have their basis in efficient or allergy distorted digestion. Because of this flow of digestive juices there will be an accompanying stimulation of appetite. This is helpful in convalescence as well as problems where there is a reduction of appetite. Unfortunately appetite stimulation is not always desirable. Bitters stimulate a range of liver activities, especially increasing the production of bile, and the release of bile from the gallbladder. There is a very mild stimulation of endocrine activities, especially insulin and glucagon secretion by the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Through the central reflex there is a stimulation of peristalsis in the tubular muscles of the body. Bitters help the gut wall repair damage through stimulating the self-repair mechanisms.

¹²The styptic and astringent properties of tannic acid are useful in the treatment of inflammations, skin eruptions and bowel conditions and thus form an important principle in the action of many medicinal products.

¹³Polyphenols rosmarinic, coffeic. and urslic are antioxidants which are anti-inflammatory, immune system protective, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-carcinogenic. Polyphenols may be helpful in diabetic retinopathy, beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Vasodilation and nitric oxide production, Increase in the (*)NO-cyclic GMP pathway which has a beneficial effect at vascular level.

¹⁴Resins and gums are complex polysaccharides composed of sugars other than glucose (primarily arabinose, fucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose and xylose). These chemicals seal wounds and are antibacterial and antifungal.

⁶ Page 517. Peter Holmes. The Energetic Of Western Herbs. Volume 2. Snow Lotus Press, 1998, Boulder, Colorado.

⁷Dominique Baudoux. Antiviral and Antimicrobial Properties Of Essential Oils. Positve Health. Positive Health Publications. http:www.positivehealth.com/permit/articles/aromatherapy/loaid55htm. 4/26/2006.

⁸Mark A. Brudnak Ph.D., N.D.. Monoterpenes In Cancer Prevention and Therapy. Townsend Letter For Doctors And Patients, August 2001. 4/26/2006

⁹ Beneforce. Bergomot Essential Oil Informatin. http:www.beneforce.com/information/essential-oils/bergamot.htm. 4/26/2006

¹⁰Website of The America Chemical Society. www.chemistry.or/portal/a/c/sl/acdisplay.htm?doc=homemolecul/archive/motw_1_8_cineole_arh.htm. 4/26/2006

¹¹ David L. Hoffmann B.Sc, M.N.I.M.H. Bitters. www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID+1581. 4/26/2006

¹² Michael Tim, Department of Plant Biology University of Maryland. Module 2: Phytochemicals (Minerals, Phytamins, and Vitamins). www.ars-grin.gov/duk/syllabus/module?.htm. 4/26/2006

¹³ Ray Sahelian M.D.. Polyphenols. www.raysahelian.com/polyphenols.html. 4/26/2006

¹⁴ Michael Tim, Department of Plant Biology University of Maryland. Module 2: Phytochemicals (Minerals, Phytamins, and Vitamins). www.ars-grin.gov/duk/syllabus/module?.htm. 4/26/2006