Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare: Chemical Composition and Biological Studies

[Panciu Corina-Maria]

Origanum vulgare L. (oregano, wild marjoram), an herbaceous Mediterranean species of the Lamiaceae family, comprises several subspecies such as hirtum  Ietsw., vulgare L., viridulum (Martrin-Donos) Nyman, glandulosum (Desfontaines) Ietswaart, gracile (Koch) Ietsw., virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw., and viride L.. In Romania, the most widespread O. vulgare species is O. vulgare ssp. vulgare . In terms of chemical composition, research on O. vulgare species from various countries have previously been reported: Italy , Greek , Serbia, Egypt , Pakistan , China , India , Iraq , Macedonia . Representatives of the following important classes of active principles were revealed: essential oil (with carvacrol and/or thymol, linalool, and p-cymene), polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), triperpenoids, and sterols . European oregano has been traditionally used since ancient times for its carminative, stomachic, emmenagogue, and expectorant effects to treat cramps, flatulence, coughs, or menstrual problems . Origanum vulgare’s longstanding use in traditional medicine attracts even greater interest in designing new pharmaceutical formulations in various areas. New investigations have shown many therapeutic properties: antimicrobial , antiviral , antioxidant , anti-inflammatory , antispasmodic, antiurolithic, antiproliferative , neuroprotective, etc. Because of its high antioxidant activity, O. vulgare is an important natural source for the preservation of different food or cosmetics . This study provides data on the chemical and biological characterization of the spontaneous Romanian Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare. In the ethanolic extract of oregano, four phenolic acids (gentisic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric and rosmarinic acids) and six flavonoids (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin and luteolin) were identified by HPLC-MS. The biological effects, particularly the antioxidant, antimicrobial and hepatoprotective, were significant. The antioxidant activity, evaluated using CUPRAC, FRAP, inhibition of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c, and SO scavenging assays, indicated that O. vulgare extract had a high antioxidant potential, in line with the total polyphenolic content.Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare: Chemical Composition and Biological Studies