From The July 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News

Oregano, the Spice of Health

Like many spices, oregano (Oreganum vulgare) is touted as a potent antibiotic that fights all kinds of pathogens.¹ The most savory research on oregano essential oil (EO) was done in vitro, and investigated its effect on food-borne bacteria such as E. coli.^2,3 In what appears to be the only human study, 14 adult patients testing positive for intestinal parasites were given 600 mg/day of emulsified Mediterranean oregano EO for six weeks (no placebo, no double-blind design).⁴

This completely eradicated three different parasites in eight subjects (57 percent) and reduced one species of parasite in three others. Seven of the aforementioned 11 patients experienced improved GI symptoms. Three EO issues: in vitro tests suggest oregano may influence progesterone in the body,⁵ so it might be inadvisable to take during pregnancy.⁶ Also, oils vary from season to season, which may affect the herb's potency.⁷ Controlled clinical trials should investigate the effects of EO on good bacteria, such as the probiotics lactobacilli and bifido bacteria, which the spice may also kill.

Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and has collaborated on more than 50 university-based clinical trials. He is the co-founder of EAS and founder and chief scientific officer of IMAGINutrition.

References

1. Özcan M, Erkmen O. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Turkish plant spices. Eur Food Res Technol 2001 Apr 4 (Published online before print).

2. McCarthy TL, et al. Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of natural food/plant extracts as compared with synthetic antioxidants and vitamin E in raw and cooked pork patties. Meat Sci 2001;57:45-52.

3. Skandamis PN, Nychas G-JE. Development and evaluation of a model predicting the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 NCTC 12900 in homemade eggplant salad at various temperatures, pHs, and oregano essential oil concentrations. Appl Environ Microbiol 2000;66:1646-53.

4. Force M, et al. Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano in vivo. Phytother Res 2000;14:213-4.

5. Zava DT, et al. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1998;217:369-78.

6. Belew C. Herbs and the childbearing woman. J Nurse-Midwifery 1998;44:231-52.

7. D'Antuono LF, et al. Variability of essential oil content and composition of Origanum vulgare L. populations from a north Mediterranean area (Liguria region, Northern Italy). Ann Botany 2000;86:471-8.