The scientific name of the oregano is Plectranthus aromaticus Roxb.

Scientific names Common names

Coleus amboinicus Lour. Bildu (Sul.)

Coleus aromaticus Benth. Clavo (C. L. Bis.)
Coleus suganda Blanco Garabo (Surigao)
Plectranthus aromaticus Roxb. Latai (Sub.)
Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Sprengel Latay (Sub.)
Suganda (Tag.)
Country borage (Engl.)
Indian borage (Engl.)
Oregano (Span., Engl.)
Other vernacular names

BENGALI: Pathorchur.
CHINESE: Zuo shou xiang.
FRENCH: Plectranthus aromatique.
HINDI: Pathorchur, Patharchur, Pashan bhedi.
JAPANESE: Koreusu aromatikusu.
MALAY: Ajeran (Indonesia), Bangun bangun, Daun jinten (Java), Jintan
(Indonesia), Sukan.
MALAYALAM: Kannikurkka, Panikkurukka, Navarayilla.
SANSKRIT: Parnayavani, Karpooravalli, Pashanabhedi.
SPANISH: Torongil de Limon, Oregano.
Oregano is an erect, spreading, branched, rather coarse, strongly
aromatic, green herb, with fleshy stems. Leaves are fleshy, broadly
ovate, 4 to 9 centimeters long, often heart-shaped, and somewhat
hairy, with rounded toothed margins, with the tip and base
decurrent. Flowers are small, and occur in distant whorls. Calyx is
bell-shaped; the throat is smooth inside, with two lips, the upper lip
being ovate and thin, the lower lip having four narrow teeth. Corolla
is pale purplish and 5 times longer than the calyx, with a short tube,
inflated throat, and short lips.
Distribution
- Cultivated for its aromatic leaves.
- Certainly introduced.
- Also occurring in India to Malaya.
Constituents
- Fresh leaves yield 0.055 volatile oil, largely carvacrol.
- Phytochemical screening yielded carbohydrates, proteins, phenols,
tannins, flavanoids, saponins, glycosides.
- Aerial parts yielded essential oil with 28 constituents, 16 of which
were identified. Thymol (83.39%) was the major compound, while
1-octen-3-ol, terpine-4-ol, eugenol, trans-caryophyllene,
caryophyllene oxide and -cadinol were present as minor
constituents.
- Study of flowers and aerial parts for essential oils yielded four
compounds from flowers oil and twelve from the aerial parts. The
major constituent was carvacrol in flowers and aerial parts, 50.98%
and 77.16% respectively. Other constituents were p-cymene, -
caryophyllene, and trans-a-bergamotene.
Medicinal properties of oregano
- Aromatic, carminative, emmenagogue, diaphoretic, tonic,
stimulant.
- In India, considered antilithiotic, chemopreventive, antiepileptic,
antioxidant.
Parts utilized
Leaves
Uses
Edibility / Culinary
As condiment, provides fragrance to salads and strong-smelling
meat dishes.
Sometimes, used as flavoring for drinks.
In India, leaves of the green type often eaten raw with bread and
butter. Chopped leaves used as a substitute for sage. (see study)
Folkloric traditional medicine remedies, uses and benefits
of oregano
In the Philippines, macerated fresh leaves applied externally to
burns.
Leaves are bruised and applied to centipede and scorpion bites.
Also, applied to temples and forehead for headache, help in place by
a bandage.
Leaves in infusion or as syrup used as aromatic and carminative;
used for dyspepsia and also as a cure for asthma.
The Malays used the plant juice or decoction for pains around the
areas of the heart or abdomen.
Decoction of leaves given after childbirth.
In Indo-China, given for asthma and bronchitis.
The juice of the leaves for dyspepsia, asthma, chronic coughs,
bronchitis, colic, flatulence, rheumatism. The dose is one
tablespoonful of the fresh juice every hour for adults and one
teaspoonful every two hours, four times daily, for children. As an
infusion, 50 to 60 grams to a pint of boiling water, and drink the
tea, 4 to 5 glasses a day. For children, 1/2 cup 4 times daily.
For otalgia (ear aches), pour the fresh, pure juice into the ear for
10 minutes.
For carbuncles, boils, sprains, felons, painful swellings: Apply the
poultice of leaves to the affected area, four times daily.
For sore throats, a decoction of two tablespoonfuls of dried leaves
to a pint of boiling water, taken one hour before or after meals.
In India, leaves are used traditionally for bronchitis, asthma,
diarrhea, epilepsy, nephro-cystolithiasis, fever, indigestion and
cough. Also used for malarial fever, hepatopathy, renal and vesicle
calculi, hiccup, helminthiasis, colic, and convulsions.
 The Chinese used the juice of leaves with sugar, for cough in
children, asthma and bronchitis, epilepsy and convulsive disorders.
Leaves are applied to cracks at the corners of the mouth, for
thrush, headaches; against fever as a massage or as a wash.
Used for bladder and urinary afflictions, and vaginal discharges.
Used as carminative, given to children for colic.
In Bengal, used for coli and dyspepsia.
Expressed juice applied around the orbit to relieve conjunctival
pain.
Other uses
Fresh leaves rubbed on clothing or hair at the time of bathing for
its scent.
Recent uses and preparations
Respiratory ailments like cough, asthma and bronchitis: Squeeze
juice of the leaves. Take one teaspoon every hour for adults. For
children above 2 years old, 3 to 4 teaspoons a day.
Science proven health benefits and uses of oregano
Antioxidant / Anticlastogenic / Radioprotective:
Antioxidant, anticlastogenic and radioprotective effect of Coleus
aromaticus on Chinese hamster fibroblast cells (V79) exposed to
gamma radiation: The hydroalcoholic extract of CA showed dose-
dependent radical scavenging against free radicals, rendered
radioprotection against radiation induced DNA damage. Study
results established antioxidant, anticlastogenic and
radioprotective activities and suggests a potential for
chemoprevention.
Antioxidant:
Study of freeze-dried aqueous extract of Ca clearly established the
antioxidant potency of freeze-dried extract of C aromaticus.
Mast cell stabilization property:
Study showed stabilization of mast cells in rat mesenteric tissue and
suggests further studies into mast cells with its role in Type 1
hypersensitivity-mediated diseases like asthma and rhinitis.
Antimicrobial:
Results showed the antimicrobial activity and suggests the herb
could be an ideal choice for treating reproductive tract
infections.
Antimicrobial:
Study showed the antimicrobial effect of Coleus amboinicus, Lour
folium infuum toward C albicans and Strep mutans.
Anticlastogenicity:
Study of ethanolic extract of C aromaticus showed a protective effect
against cyclophophamide and mitomycin-C induced cytogenetic
damage.
Anti-Inflammatory:
In a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, the aqueous
extract of Coleus aromaticus exhibited potent anti-inflammatory
activity, attributed to the inhibition of mediators released from the
2nd phase of inflammation.
Antibacterial / Leaves:
Study showed both ethanol and hot water leaf extracts of Coleus
aromaticus to possess potent antibacterial activity, the ethanol
extract showing greater activity. Results provide scientific support
for the centuries-old use of the plant as a medicinal herb.
Forskolin / Antioxidant / Anti-Asthma / Pulmo-
protective:
Study isolated forskolin, a diterpenoid, from a methanolic extract of
C aromaticus. C aromaticus has been used to treat asthma.
Forskolin has been thought to be responsible for its pharmaceutical
activity through restoration of antioxidant enzyme activity with its
ability to scavenge free radicals. The results validate the use of
forskolin as an anti-asthmatic agent.
Insecticidal / Anti-Termite:
Study investigating the leaf essential oil of C. amboinicus yielded six
components. The major component was thymol (94.3%), followed
by carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, spathuylenol, terpinen-4-ol.
The oil was insecticidal to white termites (Odontotermes obesus
Rhamb). It was more active than synthetic insecticides, Thiodan
and Primoban-20 against termites, although it was ineffective
against Tribolium castaneum, a stored product pest.
Galactagogue / Bangun-bangun Leaves:
Participants in an Indonesian of study of Batakneese women were
given bangun-bangun soup during their nursing period,
most consuming a bowl of soup three times daily for 30-40
days. The study aimed to gather information about the women's
beliefs and experiences in the use of the herb. The participants felt
their breasts become full with breast milk. Most felt
consuming CA leaves helped control postpartum bleeding
and help "uterine cleansing."
Anthelmintic / Antimicrobial:
A chloroform and methanol extract of leaf and leaf oil showed
significant anthelmintic activity. The plant extracts also showed
antibacterial activity against test organisms, with very poor
antifungal activity.
Effects on Cell Viability / Flavonoids:
A cell viability assay revealed an aqueous extra t of C. aromaticus
leaves and methanolic extract of Annona squamosa leaves to show
significant results. Total flavonoid contents were 2.60% and 2.4%
respectively.
Wound Healing / Leaves and Roots
: Study evaluated wound healing activity of aqueous extract of
leaves and roots of C. aromaticus in excisional wound model in
albino rats. A ten percent ointment of aqueous extract of root
showed complete epithelization after 12 days, while a 5% ointment
of leaf extract showed complete healing after 16 days.
Diuretic Healing / Leaves:
Study evaluated a water extract of leaves for diuretic activity in male
albino rats. Results showed significant increase in urine output and
electrolytes concentration.
Forskolin / Healing / Lung Protective:
Study evaluated antioxidant potency of forskolin for protective
action in lung damage in rats caused by ova albumin. Results
showed forskolin exhibited better antioxidant activity against lipid
peroxidation induced by ova albumin and aluminum hydroxide.
Hepatoprotective
Study evaluated the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of
P. amboinicus against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Results showed significant alteration of paracetamol induced
changes in the serum and tissue enzymes to near normal values,
together with improvement of histopathology profile.
Antibacterial Against Enteric Pathogens:
Alcoholic leaf extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against enteric
pathogens such as Shigella sp., Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia
coli.
Antidiabetic / Antioxidant:
Study evaluated the effect of Coleus aromaticus leaves on blood
glucose and antioxidant enzyme levels in alloxan rendered diabetic
rats. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly lowered the
alloxan mediated hyperglycemia. Activity of antioxidant enzymes
such as DOD, CAT, and GPxase were increased in liver homogenate
of diabetic animals treated with the extracts.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Cultivated for condiment and culinary use.
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