• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.352-356
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of Origanum majorana L. ethanol extract against food-borne pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of Origanum majorana L. extract was determined using a paper disc method. The extract exhibited growth inhibiting activities in a concentration dependent manner on 10 species microorganisms. The extract of Origanum majorana L. showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enteritidis. The growth inhibitory effects of Origanum majorana L. extract on food poisoning microorganisms were determined against Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes, gram negative and positive bacteria, respectively. The extract of Origanum majorana L. had strong antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes at the concentration of $700 mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. At this concentration, the extract of Origanum majorana L. inhibited the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes up to 60 and 36 hours, respectively. The results in the present study demonstrate antimicrobial effects of Origanum majorana L. ethanol extract against food-borne pathogens, suggesting that Origanum majorana L. could be an effective natural antibacterial agent in food.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1077-1084
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of Origanum majorana essential aroma therapy on electrical activity in the brain as evaluated by an electroencephalogram (EEG). The subjects were 29 healthy female young adults, and their sleep quality was assessed by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. EEG electrodes were attached at the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes according to the international 10-20 system. Subjects were exposed to organic Origanum majorana essential aroma (50 ${\mu}l$) for a period of 3 minutes each before, during, and after aromatherapy. Subjects with good sleep quality showed that Origanum majorana essential aroma increased the theta power at the frontal and temporal lobes of both cerebral hemispheres, the left parietal lobe, and the right occipital lobe. Furthermore, Origanum majorana essential aroma decreased the alpha power at the left occipital lobe and the beta power at the right temporal lobe. On the other hand, subjects with poor sleep quality showed an increase in the theta power at the temporal lobe of both cerebral hemispheres and a decrease in the alpha power at the left parietal lobe by Origanum majorana essential aroma therapy. It is concluded that Origanum majorana essential aroma therapy diminishes the state of wakefulness in the brain; alpha and beta powers were both decreased in the subjects with good sleep quality, but only alpha power was decreased in the subjects with poor sleep quality. Moreover, Origanum majorana essential aroma therapy has a sleep-inducing effect in both subjects with good sleep quality and poor sleep quality.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.219-229
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• 2006

Seventeen microbial species including 10 fungal taxa, two yeasts and five bacteria, were isolated from freshly prepared orange, guava and banana juices kept in open bottles at room temperature for 7 days. Eight different essential oils, from local herbs, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against these test organisms. The essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus, Ocimum basilicum and Origanum majorana were found to be highly effective against these microorganisms. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the most prevalent microorganisms in juice, showed the highest resistance against these essential oils. GC-MS analysis showed that while e-citral, a'-myrcene, and z-citral represent the major components (75.1 %) of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus; bezynen,l-methyl-4-(2-propenyl), 1,8-cineole and trans-a'-bisabolene were the main components (90.6%) of Ocimum basilicum; whereas 3-cyclohexen-l-0l,4-methyl-l(l-methylethyl)-(CAS), c-terpinene and trans-caryophyllene represent the major components (65.1%) of Origanum majorana. These three essential oils were introduced into juices by two techniques namely, fumigation and direct contact. The former technique showed more fungicidal effect than the latter one against A. flavus, A. niger, and S. cerevisiae. The essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus by comparison to other test oils showed the strongest effect against these fungi with a minimum inhibitory concentration of $1.5\;{\mu}l/ml$ medium and a sublethal concentration of $1.0\;{\mu}l/ml$. The antimicrobial activity of this oil is thermostable at $121^{\circ}C$ for 30 min.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.425-430
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidative capacity of oregano extracts. Amount of oregano extract at which DPPH radical scavenging activity was inhibited by 50% was $21.8{\mu}g$ as compared to 100% by pyrogallol as a reference. Total antioxidant status was examined by total antioxidant capacity against potent free radical reactions. Total antioxidant capacities of oregano extract at the amounts of 7.5 and $15{\mu}g$ were 15.1 and 31.4 nmol Trolox equivalents, respectively. Oxygen radical absorbance capacities of oregano extract at the amounts of 0.2 and $0.4{\mu}g$ were 1.4 and 2.4 nmol gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Total phenolic contents of oregano extract at the amounts of 30 and $75{\mu}g$ were 40.5 and 83.9 nmol gallic acid equivalents, respectively. The inhibitory effect of oregano extract on lipid peroxidation was examined using rat liver mitochondria induced by $FeSO_4$/ascorbic acid. Oregano extracts at the amounts of 20 and $50{\mu}g$ decreased TBARS level by 20 and 64%, respectively. Thus strong antioxidant effects of oregano extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention against free radicals-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.240-244
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate a proper $Ca^{2+}\;:\;K^+$ ratio in nutrient solution to produce marjoram and oregano by hydroponics. Two herbs were grown for 40 days with the $Ca^{2+}\;:\;K^+$ ratio of 3.5;13, 4.5:11(standard herb's nutrient solution), 5.5:9 and 6.5:7mM${\cdot}L^{-1}$ of herb's nutrient solution developed by European Vegetable R &D Center, Belgium. The ratio of 5.5:9, and 6.5:7 mM${\cdot}L^{-1}$ showed better results in growth of marjoram than other treatments. Vitamin C contents and amounts of esential oil were the highest in the ratio of 5.5:9 and 6.5:7, respectively. Inoregano, the growth and vitamin C contents were the highest in the ratio of 5.5:9 and 6.5:7 mM${\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. The content (%) and amount (mg/plant) of essential oil were the highest in the ratio of 6.5:7mM${\cdot}L^{-1}$. These results indicated that 5.5:9 and 6.5:7 mM${\cdot}L^{-1}$were proper $Ca^{2+}\;:\;K^+$ ratio of nutrient solution of marjoram and oregano, respectively, by hydropoinics.