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The plants from genus Origanum are common folk Chinese herbs used to treat a variety of diseases. They are also used as a spice, a seasoning, and an ornament. Origanum plants are rich in essential oils and also have other compounds including terpenoids, flavonoids, organic acids, and sterols. They have a variety of biological activities such as antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, growth-promoting, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. The chemical components and biological effects of genus Origanum were summarized by different scientific databases such as Web of Science, SciFinder, Baidu Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink. In conclusion, recent studies were mainly focused on the activities of their essential oils. The research studies for nonvolatile constituents and their pharmacological activities are few. Therefore, research on compounds in genus Origanum plants can be strengthened and their application prospect can be explored so as to make better use of the resources of these plants.

SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for causing 6,218,308 deaths globally till date and has garnered worldwide attention. The lack of effective preventive and therapeutic drugs against SARS-CoV-2 has further worsened the scenario and has bolstered research in the area. The N-terminal and C-terminal RNA binding domains (NTD and CTD) of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein represent attractive therapeutic drug targets. Naturally occurring compounds are an excellent source of novel drug candidates due to their structural diversity and safety. Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in ethanolic extract (s) of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare, and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their cytotoxic potential was determined against cancer and normal cell lines by MTT assay to ascertain their biological activity in vitro. To evaluate their antiviral potential, the binding efficacy to NTD and CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was determined using in silico biology tools. In silico assessment of the phytocomponents revealed that most of the phytoconstituents displayed a druglike character with no predicted toxicity. Binding affinities were in the order apigenin catechin apiin toward SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid NTD. Toward nucleocapsid CTD, the affinity decreased as apigenin cinnamic acid catechin. Remdesivir displayed lesser affinity with NTD and CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins than any of the studied phytoconstituents. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results revealed that throughout the 100 ns simulation, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein NTD-apigenin complex displayed greater stability than SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein NTD-cinnamic acid complex. Hence, apigenin, catechin, apiin and cinnamic acid might prove as effective prophylactic and therapeutic candidates against SARS-CoV-2, if examined further in vitro and in vivo. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in the extract(s) of four medicinally important plants viz. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their biological activity was also evaluated against cancer and normal cell lines. Interestingly, while all extract(s) wielded significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells, no significant toxicity was found against normal cells. The outcome of the results prompted evaluation of the antiviral potential of the ten bioactive compounds using in silico biology tools. The present study emphasizes on the application of computational approaches to understand the binding interaction and efficacy of the ten bioactive compounds from the above plants with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein N-terminal and C-terminal RNA binding domains in preventing and/or treating COVID-19 using in silico tools. Druglikeness and toxicity profiles of the compounds were carried out to check the therapeutic application of the components. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to check the stability of ligand-protein complexes. The results provided useful insights into the structural binding interaction(s) that can be exploited for the further development of potential antiviral agents targeting SARS-CoV-2 especially since no specific therapy is still available to combat the rapidly evolving virus and the existing treatment is more or less symptomatic which makes search for novel antiviral agents all the more necessary and crucial.

Introduction. Cholestasis is caused by malfunction of the hepatobiliary system. This disorder is the result of the accumulation of bile fatty acids and other toxins in the liver. The aim of the current study was to investigate the antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract of Origanum majorana L. (OM) on hepatic disorder and tissue damage induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. Materials and methods. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including sham control group received vehicle (SC-V), bile duct ligation received vehicle (BDL-V), bile duct ligation group received OM extract (BDL + OM), and sham control group received OM extract (SC + OM). One day after surgery, the animals received vehicle or methanolic extract of OM 300 mg/kg/day for 7 consecutive days by oral gavage. Finally, the animals were anesthetized and the blood samples were collected from each animal. After sacrificing of animals, liver tissue from each rat was removed and divided into three parts: one part was used for preparing of homogenized tissue, one part was fixed in 10% neutral formalin for histopathology examination, and the third part was kept in liquid nitrogen for gene expression analysis. Biomarkers of oxidative stress in the liver tissue and serum, as well as histopathological changes of the liver, were assessed. Also, the gene expression of IL-1, TNF-α, TGF-β, and α-SMA has been measured. Results. The results showed that BDL-V significantly increased the activity of ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin compared to the SC-V group. The oxidative stress markers such as MDA and FRAP significantly increased due to BDL, while the CAT activity reduced in the BDL-V group compared to SC-V group. Oral treatment with OM reduced ALT and AST activity, although it was not statistically significant. OM treatment considerably increased the activity of CAT compared to BDL group. BDL-V induced a significant histological change in the liver, while treatment with OM at a dose of 300 mg/kg showed a minor effect on histopathological changes. In addition, the mRNA of IL-1, TNF-α, TGF-β, and α-SMA significantly increased in the BDL-V group, while treatment with OM only significantly reduced TGF-β in comparison with BDL-V rats. Conclusions. The results of the present study showed that oral administration of OM extract had a moderate protective effect on cholestasis due to BDL. Indeed, more studies with different doses of extract are needed to confirm this finding.

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of oregano essential oil on the growth performance, blood glucose levels, body composition and intestinal morphometry of Nile tilapia reared in salinized water at 10 g/L for 64 days. The experiment was set up as a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates, in which a control diet and four diets containing increasing concentrations of oregano essential oil (0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3.0 g/kg) were tested. The best results for the growth parameters were obtained with the oregano essential oil inclusion level of 0.75 g/kg, but did not differ (p > .05) from inclusion levels of 0.0, 2.25 and 3.0 g/kg. Conversely, the treatment including the oil level of 1.5 g/kg was the only one to produce significantly (p

Bacterial pathogens causing diseases in fishes have broad host ranges, and may cause high mortality or ongoing chronic infections. Pathogen treatments using antibiotics are becoming limited due to increasing concerns for the development of resistance and environmental dissemination of bacteria harboring resistance genes. This study aimed to determine whether nano‐emulsions of selected plant‐derived essential oils (Origanum vulgare, Eucalyptus globulus, Melaleuca alternifolia and Lavendula angustifolia) were bacteriostatic or bactericidal to Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus iniae and Photobacteriumdamselae subspecies damselae. All treatments showed antibacterial activity, and in almost all cases the activity of the nano‐emulsions was superior to their essential oil counterparts. Origanum vulgare (oregano) nano‐emulsion had the most effective antibacterial activity, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 3.12 µg/ml against all three species; substantially better than tetracycline. The present study highlights the potential of new formulations of essential oils to enhance bacterial disease control in cultured fish.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a recurring global problem, which constantly demands new antimicrobial compounds to challenge the resistance. It is well known that essential oils (EOs) have been known for biological activities including antimicrobial properties. In this study, EOs from seven aromatic plants of Asir region of southwestern Saudi Arabia were tested for their antimicrobial efficacy against four drug resistant pathogenic bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus typhimurium) and one fungal isolate (Candida albicans). Chemical compositions of EOs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results revealed that EOs from Mentha cervina, Ocimum basilicum, and Origanum vulgare proved most active against all isolates with inhibitory zone range between 17 and 45 mm. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.025mg/ml was observed for Staph. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes with EO of Origanum vulgare. All the three EOs showed significant anticandida activity. The results related to EOs from Mentha cervina, Ocimum basilicum, and Origanum vulgare demonstrated significant antimicrobial efficacy against drug resistant microorganisms.

World Health Organization (WHO) has approved only one treatment for schistosomiasis, praziquantel (PZQ), but some poor efficacy was noticed in patients during the early stage of infection. Therefore, researchers have intensified their efforts to research new alternative medicines to treat schistosomiasis. In the present study, in vitro as well as in vivo studies have been accomplished to evaluate the effect of Origanum majorana, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Salvia fruticosa extracts in a different concentration 500, 250, 125, 62.5, and 31.25 μg/ml on golden hamster infected by Egyptian strains of schistosome (Schistosoma haematobium). In vitro, the adult worms and schistosomula of S. haematobium were investigated in RPMI-1640 medium for 48 hrs. The results showed that the concentration 500, 250, and 125 μg/ml of Origanum majorana, and Ziziphus spina-christi caused dead of 100% of Egyptian Schistosoma strains of adult worm and schistosomula of S. haematobium within 6 to 12 hrs of incubation. On the other hand, the extract of Salvia fruticosa at concentrations 500, 250, and 125 μg/ml showed death 100% parasites after 12 to 24 hrs of incubation. Inclusion, Origanum majorana, and Ziziphus spina-christi showed effectiveness against Egyptian Schistosoma strains (S. haematobium), a slight decrease in Salvia fruticosa was observed. Therefore, these medical plant extracts may be used as a safe and effective treatment for schistosomiasis.

Origanum genus is one of the most widely used herbs in folk medicine for its biological properties. The present investigation aims to characterize, for the first time, endemic Origanum grosii collected from the Taounate region, Morocco. This characterization was realized by determining the concentration of metals in different parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, and stems) by ICP-MS, and the results were studied statistically by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Phytochemical screening with the dosage of polyphenols and flavonoids has been conducted. To know more about this species, antihyperglycemic tests have been performed to highlight the presence or absence of the antidiabetic effect for this plant. An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) has been performed on normal mice which were divided into two groups of six mice each. Group 1 (control group) was treated with distilled water, and group 2 was treated with an aqueous extract of O. grosii by gavage at 150 mg/kg. Digestive enzyme α-amylase inhibition assay has also been evaluated to study the inhibition effect of the studied extract using acarbose as a control. The results showed that the leaves exhibited a high concentration of trace elements (Ca, Mg, and K) and total absence of heavy metals, which were found in small quantities (Cr, Ni, and B) on the stems, and this makes the plant safe to use. On the other hand, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and steroids were the major families strongly present in this species. The antidiabetic results showed that O. grosii have significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia after glucose loading in normal rats. It showed also that this species has a significant antihyperglycemic activity reflected by the inhibition of α-amylase. The one responsible for this property could be the synergy between the trace elements and the nature of the chemical families of O. grosii species, which can make this plant useful in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia.

Origanum compactum Benth., is a Moroccan medicinal plant known by its local name as Zaatar. In Morocco, it has various traditional applications such as the use to treat diabetes, metabolic disorders, digestive, and respiratory problems. In this review, we critically highlighted current investigations on the ethnopharmacological studies, the phytochemistry, pharmacological investigations, biotechnological applications, and future perspective of O. compactum. A bibliometric electronic search in worldwide accepted scientific databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, and Google Scholar was carried out to gather on O. compactum. Chemical analysis using GC-MS and/or HPLC allowed the identification of several bioactive compounds such as terpenoids and phenolic acids. Furthermore, O. compactum extracts and essential oils have been tested for various biological activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antifungal, and anticancer effects. Moreover, an alignment between traditional use and biological effects was demonstrated, in particular for the antimicrobial activity. These properties are related to O. compactum bioactive components, especially the volatile compounds such as thymol and carvacrol. The pharmacological mechanisms involve several cellular and molecular targeted actions. Moreover, the biological potential of this species had led some laboratories to apply the biotechnological tools for its regeneration. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Origanum compactum is applied as traditional drug against different illnesses and for food preservation. Scientific investigations proved the application of O. compactum essential oils in food industries as antioxidants and antimicrobials. These volatile compounds could be applied also in pharmaceutical industries, in particular as antibacterial, antifungal, and antileishmanial drugs. Moreover, further investigations concerning toxicological evidences and pharmacokinetic as well as pharmacodynamic mechanistic targets and clinical trials could develop anticancer, antimalaria and anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic drugs. Finally, the results of the findings of these purposes encourage other research groups to carry out further investigations on the pharmacological properties of O. compactum.

Current study describes discrepancy in biological efficacy of methanolic and ethanolic extracts and essential oil procured from cultivated and wild accessions of Origanum vulgare. Simultaneously, quantification of carvacrol, thymol, caryophyllene, ocimene, and terpinen-4-ol contents was determined via GC-MS and GC in both accessions. The results revealed significantly a higher antioxidant potential by methanolic extracts displaying IC50 of 19.9 μg/ml compared to essential oil with IC50 of 10 μg/ml, and ethanolic extracts were found to be less effective even at the concentration of 3 μg/ml. However, essential oil from wild and cultivated accessions of O. vulgare exhibited significantly high antimicrobial activity against all 39 bacteria, 16 fungi, and 2 yeast species tested due to higher concentrations of carvacrol and thymol as revealed by GC analysis. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity in a C6 cell line displayed 81.0%–87.0% depigmentation potential of the methanolic extracts, while ethanolic extracts revealed a maximum of 88.54–99.02% inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-treated cells. Hence, the study determines efficacy of essential oil against microbial pathogenesis, methanolic extracts as potent depigmentation agents, and ethanolic extracts as potent free radical scavenger.

Background. The most important cause of acute renal failure in normal kidneys is ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of the current study was to investigate the protective effects of Origanum majorana (OM) methanolic extract, carvacrol, and vitamin E on I/R-induced kidney injury in male rats. Material and Method. Thirty Wistar male rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups; sham, I/R, I/R + OM (300 mg/kg), I/R + carvacrol (75 mg/kg), and I/R + vitamin E (100 mg/kg). Renal function markers, oxidant-antioxidant parameters, and histopathological examination were evaluated. Results. It was exhibited that the urea, creatinine, protein carbonyl, glomerular filtration rate, total thiol, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and histopathological changes markedly reversed in the treatment groups with OM or carvacrol in comparison to the I/R merely group. Conclusion. We conclude that OM extract or its ingredient, carvacrol, exerts renoprotective impacts in I/R-induced kidney injury possibly by scavenging free radicals and increasing antioxidant power.

Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze the antifungal activity of citral, selected by screening natural products, againstCandida albicansisolates from subjects who use dental prostheses.Methodology. Screening of essential oils, including those fromMentha piperitaL. (Briq),Origanum vulgare, andZingiber officinaleL., and the phytoconstituents citral and limonene, to select an appropriate natural product. Citral, which mediated the best antifungal response, was selected for biological assays. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) for citral and nystatin were determined by the microdilution method. Micromorphological analyses, time-kill curve, and modulation tests were performed.Results. The MIC and MFC of citral were established as 32 μg/mL, consistent with fungicidal activity. The clinical strains were resistant to nystatin. Citral caused micromorphological alteration in the strains. In the time-kill curve, the growth of the clinical strain was reduction in growth equal to 3 log10colony-forming units per milliliter after exposure to the MIC andMIC×2of citral for 2 h. Citral did not modulate the resistance of the studied strains to nystatin.Conclusion. This study revealed the potential of citral as a fungicidal agent and highlighted the resistance of clinical strains ofC. albicansto nystatin.

The phytochemical, antiradical, and enzyme inhibition profile of three solvent extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, water) of Origanum sipyleum were assessed. We also performed a pharmacological study in order to explore protective effects induced by extracts in inflamed colon. LC-MS analysis revealed that the extracts contained different classes of phenolics. The aqueous extract showed the highest antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effects. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were highest in aqueous and ethyl acetate extract, respectively. All extracts were effective in reducing colon pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory biomarkers. The extracts revealed also able to inhibit fungal and bacterial species involved in ulcerative colitis, including Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus thyphimurium. Finally, we also showed the antiproliferative effects exerted by the EA extracts on human colon cancer HCT116 cell line. Concluding, our results indicated that O. sipyleum extracts displayed promising therapeutic properties which warrants further validation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present phytochemical and biological studies, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobic assessments, showed significant protective effects exerted by O. sipyleum extracts in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis. The results are intriguing and suggest potential applications O. sipyleum extracts as sources of natural agents for the management of clinical symptoms related to ulcerative colitis, characterized by increased burden of oxidative stress and microbiome dysbiosis.

The resistance mechanisms of bacteria and protozoans have evidenced the need of discover new compounds with potential pharmaceutical activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Medicinal plants have been for centuries a promising alternative as sources of new drugs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Origanum vulgare, and Curcuma longa essential oils. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity was performed by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. Antileishmanial activity was performed against antipromastigote and intracellular amastigote of Leishmania amazonensis. Cytotoxic and nitrite production were realized in BALB/c peritoneal macrophages. The major compounds of the essential oils were cinnamic aldehyde (46.30%) in C. zeylanicum, cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (33.88%) and linalyl acetate (13.90%) in O. vulgare, and turmerone (55.43%) in C. longa. The MIC showed significant antimicrobial activity of C. longa essential oil against S. aureus (83.3 ± 14.43 µg/mL). Antipromastigote activity showed IC50 values >500 µg/mL to C. zeylanicum, 308.4 ± 1.402 µg/mL to O. vulgare, and 405.5 ± 1.119 µg/mL to C. longa essential oil. Activity against intracellular amastigote of L. amazonensis showed IC50 of 63.3 ± 1.369 µg/mL and cytotoxic was not observed, resulting in selectivity index higher than 15.79 to parasite. C. longa essential oil decreased nitrite production in peritoneal macrophages, but not in Leishmania-infected cells. The chemical composition of the three essential oils is directly associated to its potential biological action, as the antimicrobial activity. C. longa presented a potent antileishmanial activity against promastigote and intracellular amastigote of L. amazonensis, although this activity is not linked to nitric oxide, since C. longa essential oil inhibits its production.

This study evaluated thein vitroantibacterial activity of essential oils fromLippia graveolens(Mexican oregano),Origanum vulgaris(oregano),Thymus vulgaris(thyme),Rosmarinus officinalis(rosemary),Cymbopogon nardus(citronella),Cymbopogon citratus(lemongrass), andEucalyptus citriodora(eucalyptus) againstEscherichia coli(n=22) strains isolated fromAlouattaspp. feces. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for each isolate using the broth microdilution technique. Essential oils of Mexican oregano (MIC mean = 1818 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 2618 μg mL−1), thyme (MIC mean = 2618 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 2909 μg mL−1), and oregano (MIC mean = 3418 μg mL−1; MBC mean = 4800 μg mL−1) showed the best antibacterial activity, while essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, citronella, and lemongrass displayed no antibacterial activity at concentrations greater than or equal to 6400 μg mL−1. Our results confirm the antimicrobial potential of some essential oils, which deserve further research.

Oregano is a perennial shrub that grows in the mountains of the Mediterranean and Euro/Irano-Siberian regions. This study was conducted to identify the major constituents of the ethanolicOriganum vulgareextract and examine the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the extract but more importantly the contribution of its specific major constituent(s) or their combination to the overall extract biological activity. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis showed that the extract contained monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic compounds, the major ones being carvacrol and thymol and to a lesser extent p-cymene, 1-octacosanol, creosol, and phytol. A549 epithelial cells challenged with the extract showed a concentration-dependent increase in cytotoxicity. A combination of thymol and carvacrol at equimolar concentrations to those present in the extract was less cytotoxic. The A549 cells pretreated with nonlethal extract concentrations protected against hydrogen-peroxide-induced cytotoxicity, an antioxidant effect more effective than the combination of equimolar concentrations of thymol/carvacrol. Inclusion of p-cymene and/or 1-octacosanol did not alter the synergistic antioxidant effects of the carvacrol/thymol mixture. The extract also exhibited antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains including clinical isolates. In conclusion, the oregano extract has cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities mostly attributed to carvacrol and thymol.

The potential antimicrobial benefit of high levels of rosmarinic acid (RA) and carvacrol (CA) in oregano (O. onites L.) extract has been limited until now by poor bioavailability arising from the low aqueous-phase solubility and slow dissolution behaviour of the lyophilized extract (E). To address this issue, various ratios of phospholipon 90H (P90H) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol), sodium salt (DMPG) were sonicated, yielding four empty liposomes (L1, L2, L3, and L90). After an initial selection process, Turkish oregano extract was internalized into the more promising candidates. Each empty liposome, extract-loaded liposome (LE1, LE2, and LE3), and freeze-dried control (E) was assessed in terms of structure, composition, RA and CA dissolution profile, storage stability, and, when relevant, zeta potential. Empty liposome L1, which was prepared using P90H and DMPG in a 1:1 ratio, displayed the most convenient encapsulation traits among the four unloaded types. Loaded liposome LE1, obtained by combining oregano extract and L1 in a 1:1 ratio, proved superior as a vehicle to deliver RA & CA when compared against control freeze-dried E and test liposomes LE2 and LE3. Dissolution profiles of the active compounds RA and CA in loaded liposomes were determined using a semi-automated dissolution tester. The basket method was applied using artificial gastric juice without pepsin (AGJ, 50rpm, 500mL). The pH value was maintained at 1.5 (37 ± 0.5°C). Aliquots (5ml) were manually extracted from parallel dissolution vessels at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60-minute time points. Dissolution tests, run to completion on LE1, showed that approximately 99% of loaded CA and 88% of RA had been released. Shorter dissolution times were also noted in using LE1. In particular, the release profile of CA and RA had levelled off after only 25 minutes, respectively, depicting an impressive 3.0–3.3 and 2.3-2.6 rate increase compared to the freeze-dried control extract. The improved dispersibility of RA and CA in the form of LE1 was supported by particle size and zeta potential measurements of the liposome, yielding 234.3nm and −30.9mV, respectively. The polydispersity index value was 0.35, indicating a reasonable particle size distribution. To study storage stability, liposomes were stored (4°C, 6 months) in amber coloured glass containers (4 oz.). Each container held 30 capsules, which were stored according to the ICH guidelines prescribed for long-term storage (25°C±2°C; 60%±5% RH). Triplicate samples were withdrawn after 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for analysis. Lastly, LE1 displayed good storage stability. The results imply that RA and CA can be conveniently and routinely delivered via oral and mucosal routes by first internalizing oregano extracts into appropriately engineered liposomes.

Origanum vulgare L. is a well-known herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Methanolic extracts of the aerial parts of O. vulgare were prepared and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Thymol was identified and measured in these extracts. The leaf and stem extracts showed moderate phenolic content and radical-scavenging capability. Methanolic solution of thymol and the extracts of O. vulgare showed strong anti-inflammatory effect on the activated microglial and mixed glial cells through inhibition of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-α expression. No cytotoxicity was observed at the effective concentrations of the thymol (0.15 mg/mL), the leaf (2.25 mg/mL) or the stem (1.5 mg/mL) extracts. The results of this study indicate that thymol may play a role in the anti-inflammatory activity of O. vulgare extracts. However, the effect of other components of the extracts should not be ignored. Practical Applications Oregano has long been used in Persian traditional medicine in various prescriptions and is renowned for its diuretic, stomachic, antineuralgic, antitussive and expectorant properties. The results of this research demonstrate its potential for use in herbal formulations, drinks or as a food additive for people suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, especially during the early stages of these diseases. The results suggest that compounds with chemical structures similar to thymol may be the components of methanolic extracts of oregano that are effective in reducing inflammation.

The effect of two essential oils (EOs), from Origanum vulgare and Origanum majorana, their structural properties, and concentration on physical and antimicrobial characteristics of chitosan based solutions as well as films was investigated. Results showed that significantly different behaviour was induced by variation in the compositions of given essential oils. Film-forming solutions (FFS) containing oregano oil comprised considerably greater particles in comparison with the marjoram samples. Similarly, structural changes were confirmed by SEM analysis of chitosan films modified with the EOs; the smaller particles of the marjoram oil demonstrated better compatibility with chitosan matrix. However, chitosan films enriched with the oregano oil showed significantly superior antimicrobial activity compared to the marjoram. The dissimilar effects of the two EOs were also observed by water vapour pressure (WVP) measurement; increasing the amount of oregano oil triggered a drop in the WVP of the prepared films, whereas the marjoram oil had a negligible impact in this respect. These results suggest that the structural features of active substances in the EOs play a crucial role in determining the final properties of FFS and biofilm systems.

The rancidity of vegetable oils is considered one problem in the food industry, thus, are added antioxidants in food. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of oregano and thyme extracts in soybean oil under thermoxidation. Soybean oil containing 3,000 mg/kg of oregano and thyme oleoresins and the mixture of both, as well as soybean oil containing tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ; 50 mg/kg) and soybean oil free of were subjected to thermoxidation. Then, the physicochemical properties and fatty acid profile were evaluated. Oregano and thyme oleoresins applied separately presented a higher protective effect, inhibiting a greater formation of polar compounds than the antioxidant TBHQ, indicating that the addition of 3,000 mg/kg has ensured a better oxidative protection than the synthetic antioxidant. The increase in the concentration of oleoresins by mixing thyme and oregano extracts has given a higher protective effect. Practical Applications Oxidation is a problem encountered in the food industry, whereas food-based oils are susceptible to oxidative degradation. To avoid this, the industry uses antioxidants that can be natural or synthetic. The use of natural antioxidants has increased because of the high demand for healthful food products and proven toxicity of some synthetic antioxidants. Many spices and herbs, such as those belonging to the family Lamiaceae, show antioxidant activity highlighting the oregano and thyme. Thus, being rich in compounds with high antioxidant activity, these extracts can be used to replace synthetic antioxidants used in vegetable oils.

The effects of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) essential oils on color stability, lipid oxidation, sensorial properties and microbiological quality of beef burger prepared with sunflower oil during frozen storage at −18C for 3 months were investigated. The burger was formulated with clove and marjoram essential oils at 250 and 500 mg/kg. Patties formulated with marjoram essential oil showed significantly lower pH values, aerobic plate counts and psychrotrophic counts. Results indicated that marjoram and clove essential oils had a powerful antioxidant activity. Since, malondialdehyde content did not exceed 0.5 mg/kg patty after 3 months of frozen storage. No significant variations in taste and odor scores between control samples and those formulated with clove oil or marjoram oil at 250 mg/kg over different months of frozen storage were noticed. The investigated essential oils had a protective effect on color properties of the burger samples. Practical Applications Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils are well-known. We hypothesized that formulating beef patties with the addition of sunflower oil would increase unsaturated fatty acids and nutritional value. This work demonstrates that marjoram essential oil could be used at 500 ppm to preserve the fresh-like quality of frozen beef patties.

High-valued medicinal plantsAchillea millefolium, Acorus calamus, Arnebia nobilis, Fumaria indica, Gymnema sylvestre, Origanum vulgare, Paeonia emodi, Peganum harmala, Psoralea corylifolia, Rauwolfia serpentina, andVetiveria zizanioideswere identified with the help of taxonomical markers and investigated for characterization and palynological studies. These parameters are used to analyze their quality, safety, and standardization for their safe use. Botanical description and crude drug description is intended for their quality assurance at the time of collection, commerce stages, manufacturing, and production. For this purpose the detailed morphology was studied and compared with the Flora of Pakistan and other available literatures. Here we reported the pollen grain morphology ofOriganum vulgare, Paeonia emodi, Psoralea corylifolia, andRauwolfia serpentinafor the first time. Similarly the crude drug study ofGymnema sylvestre(leaf),Origanum vulgare(aerial parts),Paeonia emodi(tubers), andPeganum harmala(seeds) was also carried out for the first time.

In the present study, the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils of the three Lamiaceae species, black tyme (Thymbra spicata L.), oregano (Origanum onites L.) and savory (Satureja tymbra L.) against Saprolegnia parasitica Coker strains (3) were evaluated. The composition of oils was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major constituent of the oils was carvacrol (82.68% in Thymbra spicata, 82.24% in Origanum onites and 52.38% in Satureja tymbra). The antifungal activity of essential oils was determined by a tube dilution and disc diffusion method. All essential oils inhibited fungal strains at concentration of 100 μL mL−1. The essential oil of O. onites and T. spicata was the most active (MIC 10 and 50 μL mL−1, respectively). Thymol did not show inhibiting activity. The essential oils exhibited stronger inhibition than pure carvacrol. Essential oil derived from Tymbra, Origanum and Satureja species has the potential to be used as health control of rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) against S. parasitica infection. This study describes the antifungal activity of three essential oils for developing alternative and native control methods against Saprolegniasis.

In Argentina, oregano (Origanum spp.) is one of the most important aromatic species. Leaves and flowering tops are used as seasoning, targeting the retail consumer, industrial and less to export. Local production has low-average yields due to the variability of cultivated material, the vegetative propagation methods used, and the lack of knowledge and adaptive experimentation on advanced cultivation practices. Clones of oregano grown in the country were collected in order to characterize the germplasm used in Argentina. Twelve oregano clones, sanitized by meristems culture and micropropagated in vitro, were field evaluated in three different growing locations. Regardless of growing site, the quantitative variables with more discriminating value were essential oils yield, internode length, length of the longest branch, fresh weight, dry weight of leaf and stem, leaf/stem ratio, and leaf area. Based on the quantitative traits, oregano clones can be classified into four groups. From the observations based on botanical characteristics, it was determined that the evaluated clones belong to three different taxa: Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare, Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum, and Origanum x majoricum (hybrid). Within each group, the clones belong to the same taxon.