Medicinal importance of genus Origanum: A review

Abstract

Genus Origanum is important medicinally as it has antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antithrombin, antimutagenic, angiogenic, antiparasetic and antihyperglycaemic activities. Phytochemical investigations of the species of this genus have resulted in the extraction of a number of important bioactive compounds. This emphasizes on the need of extensive study for reporting the additional information on the medicinal importance of other unattended species of genus Origanum.   Key words: Lamiaceae, secondary metabolites, Origanum, carvacrol.