Marjoram Oil

Marjoram is a medicinal plant with various proven pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antiulcer, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antifungal activities. The flowering stems are the medicinal parts. Their constituents include 1% – 2% of an essential oil with a containing terpinene and terpinols, plus tannins, bitter compounds, carotenes, and vitamin C. These substances give sweet marjoram stomachic, carminative, antispasmodic, and weak sedative properties.

In herbalism, it is used mainly for various gastrointestinal disorders and to aid digestion. Novel investigations showed increase in acid and pepsin secretions by this plant. Also sweet marjoram showed antiulcer activity and mucus protecting effects in gastrointestinal tract. Ethnomedicinal use of marjoram on vaginitis and polycystic ovarian disease can be related to restoration of hormonal balance and reduction of DHEA-S by this plant. Efficacious uses of marjoram in cardiac disease and dysrhythmia were proved which may be related to its antiplatelet and cardioprotective activities through inhibition of production of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in heart tissues.

Useful effect on head cool, sniffle, ear pain, and respiratory disorders may be related to its antimicrobial effect. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (such as α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, and γ-terpinene), oxygenated monoterpenes particularly terpinene-4-ol, cis-sabinene hydrate and terpineol, phenolic compounds particularly flavonoids (such as apigenin, hesperetin, quercetin, kaempferol), and phenolic glycosides (such as arbutin) are the active components isolated and detected in marjoram.  Various bioactive compounds have been isolated and identified in marjoram, whereas many active compounds responsible for ethnomedicinal uses or proved pharmacological activities have not been completely evaluated. Therefore, new investigations are proposed to isolate, identify and obtain the marjoram active compounds in order to explore novel natural component for rectifying the stalemate on the way of modern medicine.