Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Medicinal Plants of Turkey, CRC, Ghent, Belgium , ss.161-172, 2023
Origanum species are medicinal and aromatic plants that belong to the Mediterranean region. Turkiye is a significant center, where more than half of the world’s Origanum sp. are grown. Origanum sp. were represented by 22 species (32 taxa) of which 21 are endemic to Anatolia. Among the species O. majorana and O. onites are the most prominent ones in Turkiye. Origanum species are rich in volatile compounds that were applied as folk medicine in respiratory, circulatory, and digestive system disorders. Studies in the literature have shown that Origanum species have analgesic, antinociceptive, spasmolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-ulcerogenic effects. The volatile oil components of the genus majorly consist of terpenes, in which carvacrol is the most abundant component, though its ratio varies according to the species. Recent studies demonstrated that carvacrol has significant therapeutic effects against infections, particularly as shown during COVID pandemic in Turkiye. However, it should be supported by detailed clinical studies before it can be further used as medicine.