Antimicrobial Activity and Other Biological Properties of Oregano Essential Oil and Carvacrol

Oregano species, especially members of Origanum genus, have drawn attentionowing to their various biological activities for the last decades besides their traditional uses as flavoring herb in many cuisines throughout ages in human history. These activities are mainly dependent on type and content of the extract as well as oregano species. Essential oils extracted from oreganos are well-known bioactive agents characterized by a broad spectrum of activities ranged from antimicrobial to insecticidal. Phytochemical studies have revealed that oregano essential oil(OEO)is composed of mainly these bioactive compounds: terpenoids, phenolic acids, triterpene acids, hydroquinones, flavonoids, hydrocarbons, sterols, pigments, fatty acids, tocopherols, and inorganic compounds, which are responsible for its diversebioactivities. The monoterpene carvacrol constitutes around 50% of the oregano essential oil. In this context, the present reviewwas conducted to review oregano essential oil and its major active component carvacrol.