Origanum vulgare

Oregano seeds

Origanum vulgare, commonly known as oregano, is a species of the family Lamiaceae (formerly called Labiaceae), native to the western or southwestern of Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It is used as a condiment and in the preparation of herbal infusions. The parts used are the bracts of the inflorescence, both fresh and dried, although dried they have much more flavor and aroma.^{[citation needed]}

View of the plant

Inflorescence

Detail of the flower

In their habitat

Description

It is a perennial herb that forms a small, stocky shrub to about 45 cm (18 in) tall. The square-shaped stems, which often take on a reddish hue, branch at the top and tend to drop leaves at the bottom. The leaves appear opposite, oval and 2-4 cm wide, with entire or slightly toothed edges and hairy on the upper surface. Its tiny white or pink flowers, which are borne in tight, highly branched terminal inflorescences, are protected by tiny reddish leaves.

The aromatic essence, lemon yellow in color, is composed of a stearoptene and two types of phenols, mainly carvacrol and thymol to a lesser extent, it is found in glands distributed throughout the plant. The roots contain stachyose and the stems tannic substances.

The related species, Origanum majorana, from Asia Minor, has a completely different flavor, since its essential oil lacks phenolic compounds. Some crosses between the two species (golden oregano, also called golden marjoram) have an intermediate flavor.

Folk Medicine

Its properties have been widely studied, the most important being its antioxidant, antimicrobial and, in quite primary studies, antitumoral, antiseptic activity, and it is also considered tonic and digestive.

In popular medicine, oregano infusion has been used as an adjunct in the treatment of cough.

Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. A Cretan oregano (O. dictamnus) is still used today in Greece as a palliative for sore throats.

Oregano has high antioxidant activity, due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids. In test-tube studies, antimicrobial activity has also been shown against strains of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

In traditional Austrian medicine it has been used, both internally and externally, for the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and nervous system.

Active principles

The flavonol retusin can be found in Origanum vulgare.

Oregano is used in cigarettes and smoked to stimulate memory as a nootropic drug.^{[citation needed]}

Oregano essential oil is mainly composed of monoterpenoids and monoterpenes. However, the concentrations of specific compounds vary widely, depending on geographic location and other variable factors. More than 60 different compounds have been identified, with the main ones being carvacrol and thymol, ranging from 0 to more than 80%, while abundant minor compounds include p-cymene, γ-terpinene, caryophyllene, spathulenol, germacrene-D, β-fenchyl alcohol and δ-terpineol.

Drying of plant material affects both the amount and distribution of volatile compounds, with methods using higher heat and longer drying times having a greater negative impact. A sample of fresh whole plant material was shown to contain 33 g/kg dry weight (3.1 g/kg wet) decreased by less than one third after heating and drying by air convection. Much higher concentrations of volatile compounds are found towards the end of the growing season.

Cooking uses

Oregano is an aromatic herb that is highly prized gastronomically, as it brings an intense personality to the preparations in which it participates as a condiment, even influencing language (the expression "Not all the mountain is oregano", which alludes both to cooking and to its etymological origin, it means "herb that brightens the mountain"). Among the most significant dishes in which oregano is added as flavoring are mojos, marinated sauces and sauces such as Bolognese. Its presence stands out in Mediterranean cuisine, and especially in Italian, where it is a very characteristic flavor. It is a common ingredient in recipes such as lasagna, Torta di Ricota, Creole soup, enchiladas mineras, pizza, baked tomatoes, Neapolitan chicken breasts, cauliflower soup, stewed potatoes, garlic bread, zahareño tuna, pirozhki (Russian buns stuffed) or fricandó. Some of the main European brands package viridis, heracleoticum, illyricum, angustifoliu and capitatum.

Taxonomy

Origanum vulgare was described by Carlos Linnaeus and published in Species Plantarum 2: 590. 1753.

Etymology

See: Origanum

vulgare: Latin epithet meaning "vulgar, common".

Varieties and synonymy

Flowers.

Origanum vulgare. From Macaronesia to China.

• Thymus origanum Kuntze, Taschen-Fl. Leipzig: 106 (1867).

subsp. glandulosum (Desf.) Ietsw., Leiden Bot. Ser. 4: 110 (1980). Northern Algeria and Tunisia.

• Origanum glandulosum Desf. Fl. Atlant. 2: 27 (1798).

subsp. gracile (K.Koch) Ietsw., Leiden Bot. Ser. 4: 111 (1980). From Türkiye to Central Asia.

• Origanum gracile K.Koch, Linnaea 21: 661 (1849).
• Origanum tyttanthum Gontsch., Index Seminum (Bot. Sect. Tadshik. Akad. Sc. USSR) 1934: 12 (1934).
• Origanum kopetdaghense Boriss, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.R. 16: 280 (1954).
• Origanum glaucum Rech.f. & Edelb., Biol. Skr. 8(1): 76 (1955).

subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw., Leiden Bot. Ser. 4: 112 (1980). From Southeast Europe to Türkiye.

• Origanum hirtum Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 114 (1822).
• Origanum megastachyum Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 114 (1822).
• Origanum smyrnaeum Sm. in J. Sibthorp & J.E.Smith, Fl. Graec. 6: 57 (1827).
• Origanum heracleoticum Benth, Labiat. Gen. Spec.: 336 (1834), nom. illeg.
• Origanum neglectum Vogel, Linnaea 15: 81 (1841).
• Origanum illyricum Scheele, Flora 26: 574 (1843).
• Origanum latifolium Scheele, Flora 26: 574 (1843), nom. illeg.
• Majorana neglecta (Vogel) Walp., Repert. Bot. Syst. 3: 697 (1844).

subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw., Leiden Bot. Ser. 4: 115 (1980). From Macaronesia and western Mediterranean.

• Origanum virens Hoffmanns. Link, Fl. Portug. 1: 119 (1809).
• Origanum macrostachyum Hoffmanns. Link, Fl. Portug. 1: 120 (1809).
• Origanum virescens Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl., Suppl. 4: 186 (1816).

subsp. viridulum (Martrin-Donos) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 592 (1881). From southern Europe to the Himalayas.

• Origanum viridulum Martrin-Donos, Fl. Tarn: 551 (1864).
• Origanum heracleoticum L., Sp. Pl.: 589 (1753).
• Origanum minus Garsault, Fig. Pl. Med.: t. 430b (1764), opus utique oppr.
• Origanum humile Mill, Gard. Dict. ed. 8: 4 (1768).
• Origanum oblongatum Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 114 (1822).
• Origanum parviflorum d'Urv, Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 1: 327 (1822).
• Origanum normale D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal: 113 (1825).
• Origanum wallichianum Benth. ex Wall. Numer. List: 1565 (1829), nom. inval.
• Origanum angustifolium K.Koch, Linnaea 21: 661 (1849).
• Origanum pruinosum K.Koch, Linnaea 21: 663 (1849).
• Origanum semiglaucum Boiss. " Reut. ex Briq., Lab. Alp. Mar.: 484 (1895), pro syn.
• Origanum viride (Boiss.) Halácsy, Consp. Fl. Graec. 2: 554 (1902).
• Origanum gussonei Tineo ex Lojac., Fl. Sicul. 2(2): 195 (1907), nom. illeg.
• Origanum strobilaceum Mobayen Gahraman, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 125: 389 (1978).

subsp. vulgare. From Europe to central China.

• Origanum creticum L., Sp. Pl.: 589 (1753).
• Origanum majus Garsault, Fig. Pl. Méd.: t. 430a (1764), opus utique oppr.
• Origanum latifolium Mill, Gard. Dict. ed. 8: 3 (1768).
• Origanum orientale Mill, Gard. Dict. ed. 8: 5 (1768).
• Origanum anglicum Hill, Veg. Syst. 17: 35 (1770).
• Origanum purpurescens Gilib., Fl. Lit. Inch. 1: 64 (1782), opus utique oppr.
• Origanum officinale Gueldenst, Reis. Russland 2: 287 (1791).
• Origanum floridum Salisb, Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 85 (1796).
• Origanum micranthum Colla, Hortus Ripul., App. 4: 53 (1830).
• Origanum heracleoticum Rchb, Fl. Germ. Excurs.: 313 (1831), nom. illeg.
• Origanum stoloniferum Besser ex Rchb., Fl. Germ. Excurs.: 313 (1831).
• Origanum thymiflorum Rchb, Fl. Germ. Excurs.: 313 (1831).
• Origanum laxiflorum Royle ex Benth, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 376 (1833).
• Origanum loureiroi Kostel, Allg. Med.-Pharm. Fl. 3: 768 (1834).
• Origanum decipiens Wallr. ex Benth, Labiat. Gen. Spec.: 728 (1835).
• Origanum americanum Raf, Fl. Tellur. 3: 86 (1837).
• Origanum capitatum Willd. ex Benth., Linnaea 11: 339 (1837).
• Origanum nutans Willd. ex Benth., Linnaea 11: 339 (1837).
• Origanum venosum Willd. ex Benth., Linnaea 11: 239 (1837).
• Heracletic oroga Raf, Fl. Tellur. 3: 86 (1837).
• Origanum serpylliforme Fisch. & C.A.Mey., Index Seminum (LE) 11(Suppl.): 59 (1846).
• Origanum albiflorum K.Koch, Linnaea 21: 662 (1849).
• Origanum megastachyum var. hirtum Schur, Enum. Pl. Transsilv.: 524 (1866).
• Origanum watsonii A.Schlag. ex J.A.Schmidt, J. Bot. 6: 227 (1868).
• Origanum vacense Simonk, Term. Füz. 10: 182 (1886).
• Origanum elegans Sennen, Bol. Soc. Ibér. Ci. Nat. 32: 75 (1933 publ. 1934).
• Micromeria formosana C.Marquand, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 33: t. 3230 (1934).
• Origanum dilatatum Klokov, in Fl. RSS Feeds Ucr. 9: 664 (1960).
• Origanum puberulum (Beck) Klokov, in Fl. RSS Feeds Ukr. 9: 290 (1960).
• Mentha formosana (C.Marquand) S.S.Ying, Mem. Coll. Agric. Natl. Taiwan Univ. 29: 91 (1989).

Common name

• Castellano: fury, wild, sheep, oregano, common oregano, oregano, oregano nano, braided oregano, Turkish oregano, orenga, organ, oregano, pergüel, uregano, uriégano, uriéganu.