PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF ORIGANUM VULGARE: A REVIEW

Abstract

Origanum vulgare has been used traditionally for treatment of various ailments. Almost every part of O.vulgare including roots, leaves, stem and flower are used in the systems of medicines for the treatment of various diseases. In modern scientific literatures, the plant has been reported to have potential efficacy against diabetes, antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelminthic activities etc. O.vulgare is reported to contain various biologically active phytochemicals such as carvacrol, thymol, limonene, piene, ocimenes, caryophyllene, p-Cymene, terpenes etc. The present review highlights the traditional uses of O.vulgare and its phytochemical constituents with therapeutic activity and the evidence based studies on various pharmacological effects of the plant.