Oil of Oregano

Summary

Origanum vulgare (oregano) leaf essential oil in an olive oil base

Helps to support and maintain intestinal health

No added gluten, dairy, lactose, soy or nuts

The essential oil of the Mediterranean oregano Origanum vulgare and other Origanum varieties have a history in botanical medicine for use in the gastrointestinal tract. Essential oils (EOs) are essences procured from aromatic plants with distinctive fragrances and isolated during distillation and pressing processes. The plant produces them as protection from parasites and microbes. EOs mainly contain components such as aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes and esters. Oregano oil is one of the most commonly used EOs in natural medicine practice. The most active component in the Oregano plant, carvacrol, is a terpene found mainly in the essential oil derived from the leaf. Designs For Health Oil of Oregano utilises Arista Oregano EO, which has been manufactured to contain a minimum of 60% carvacrol.

Oil of Oregano and Intestinal Health, the Biofilm Connection

Carvacrol has been found in vitro and in vivo studies to inhibit biofilm formation and disturb preformed biofilms produced by numerous intestinal pathogens, as well as playing a role in the disruption of film adherence. Biofilms are clusters of microbial colonies that cling to each other and an exterior surface and are lodged in an extracellular matrix that contains polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA. They are coated with a thick, slimy exopolysaccharide. Microbial growth in biofilms increases resistance to host immune processes, pH and therapeutic antimicrobial strategies. It also allows microorganisms to retain water and facilitate quorum signalling and gene transfer. All of which contribute to microbial growth.

Carvacrol is primarily a hydrophobic compound. However, hydrophilic properties have also been found. It is these properties that are believed to be behind the mechanism for carvacrol’s effects on biofilm. The hydrophilic aspect may facilitate the diffusion of carvacrol through the polar matrix of the polysaccharide make-up of biofilms, whilst the hydrophobic property may cause direct action upon biofilm structure and function. Biofilm formation is implicated in the progression of several disease states of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been suggested that this is due to greater microbe numbers creating localised concentrations of microbial antigens and other harmful substances. Ultimately, this causes an imbalance in the microbiome, a breach of colonic epithelium and subsequent inflammatory response in the host’s colonic mucosa. It is a well-known function of a healthy microbiome to protect the host against microbial invasion and subsequent overgrowth of pathobionts. By acting on the biofilm of atypical microorganisms, Oil of Oregano is an extremely useful tool in maintaining optimal intestinal health.

References supplied on request.

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