Abstract

OREGANO: A WONDER HERB

Kuntal Gupta and Neelakshi Pal*

ABSTRACT

Oregano is an angiosperm of the plant kingdom whose extract of the leaves are used as a food additive, here spice. The active ingredients of oregano can be isolated from the other components by the processes like supercritical fluid extraction, solvent extraction etc. If each component is studied after separation, then each of these is found to possess some significant pharmacological uses. Amongst all, polyphenols improve diabetes, cataract and rheumatoid arthritis; flavonoids are used in treatment of brain tumour, hepatitis disease and renal cancer; thymol and carvacrol are used in gastric cancer, pain and cardiac diseases; caryophyllene is helpful in Alzheimer's disease. There are other components namely Germacre D, linalool, spathulenol, beta-myrcene etc. which are not devoid of pharmacological effects. In general, the polyphenols and essential oils of oregano have anti-microbial properties (against fungus, bacteria, virus) and other abilities which are much desirable during inflammation, spasms, convulsions, caroline storm, cell-infiltration and viral replication for positive health outcome during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The constituents which are able to suppress degenerative and comorbid diseases are also applicable in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: Oregano, Polyphenols, Flavones, Monoterpenes, Caryophyllene, COVID.