Oregano is not just a tasty aromatic herb, it\u2019s also been in use as a natural antiseptic since Ancient Greece. Added to meals, oregano supports heart health and antioxidant defense. It seems to be active against enveloped viruses in test tubes as well. The new coronavirus is enveloped, but do we know how oregano and its active compounds might affect it?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This article is for informational purposes only. The current coronavirus outbreak is an ongoing event and certain details may change as new information comes to light. No effective or FDA-approved products are currently available for the treatment of the new coronavirus (also known as SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV), although research is still ongoing. For now, the best preventive measures you can take against COVID-19 are standard precautions, including social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding touching your face.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Oregano<\/a> is a plant from the same family as mint. Many oregano species exist, but the one you\u2019re most likely to encounter in groceries and health stores is Origanum vulgare<\/em> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Besides being a culinary herb, oregano and its essential oil are packed with active compounds. Many of these are being researched for their medicinal properties, including antioxidant polyphenols and potentially microbe-fighting phenols (carvacrol and thymol) [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Thanks to its nutrients and antioxidants, oregano is probably a good addition to any diet. People around the Mediterranean have been using it for millennia. Inhabitants of Ancient Greece and Rome, for example, used oregano as an antiseptic and wellness booster [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In the West, oregano essential oil has become a popular remedy during the cold and flu season. That doesn\u2019t mean taking oregano can prevent or treat coronavirus, though. We can only gather clues from prior studies that tested oregano against viruses that are similar to the coronavirus strain we\u2019re faced with right now.<\/p>\n Antioxidants support general health and immune function, potentially helping prevent chronic diseases. Staying healthy is paramount amid the current pandemic. Recent data reveal that healthy people are less likely to experience COVID-19 complications and die from it [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Oregano is rich in plant-based antioxidants<\/strong>. Even small doses of oregano (1 g\/day) can provide a significant amount of these compounds, according to some studies. Its most important antioxidants are polyphenols like rosmarinic acid [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In one experiment on mice with colitis<\/a>, essential oils of thyme and oregano reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1\u03b2<\/a>, and IL-6<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Cytokines are mostly inflammatory messengers, and they seem to play a big role in COVID-19. The new coronavirus can cause life-threatening complications in later stages of infection by triggering \u201ccytokine storms\u201d–cytokine overload that wreaks inflammatory havoc in the body [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n One cell-based study testing 71 herbal drugs from 63 plants ranked oregano as a strong anti-inflammatory<\/strong>. Oregano extract decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF<\/a>-\u03b1<\/a>, IL-1\u03b2<\/a>, and IL-6<\/a>) while boosting the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10<\/a> in another study [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Additionally, oregano may enhance the bioavailability of other nutrients<\/strong>, but this hasn\u2019t been confirmed in humans. In animals, oregano essential oil increased the surface area of the gut and reduced inflammation, which increases nutrient uptake [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nOregano Use Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic<\/span><\/h2>\n
How Oregano Affects Antioxidant Defense & Inflammation<\/span><\/h2>\n