Origanum majorana
Marjoram
Origanum majorana, commonly known as sweet marjoram, is a fragrant perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Renowned for its delicate, sweet aroma, it is widely used in culinary arts and traditional medicine. Its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties offer therapeutic benefits for digestion, relaxation, and overall wellness.
- Scientific name: Origanum majorana
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Origanum majorana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling within the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic placement is defined by its membership in the genus Origanum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Origanum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Origanum majorana, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is called 墨角蘭 (mò jiǎo lán), while in Polish, it is referred to as Lebiodka majeranek. The Quechua language uses the name Mikhurana, and in Bosnian, it is known as Mažuran. Finally, in Spanish, the plant is commonly called mejorana.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 墨角蘭 | Wikidata |
| pl | Lebiodka majeranek | Wikidata |
| qu | Mikhurana | Wikidata |
| bs | Mažuran | Wikidata |
| es | mejorana | Wikidata |
| hu | majoránna | Wikidata |
| el | Ματζουράνα | Wikidata |
| nl | echte marjolein | Wikidata |
| ar | مردقوش كبير | Wikidata |
| sv | mejram | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found throughout Germany, Switzerland, and the areas of Czechia and Slovakia. Its range extends further south into Southwestern Europe, specifically reaching the Baleares islands. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse environmental niches that Origanum majorana can inhabit.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | NW. Balkan Pen. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Marjoram, is a fragrant herb valued for its various therapeutic properties derived from its different components. Most of the medicinal value is concentrated in the aerial parts, which encompass the stems and foliage above the ground. Specifically, the aromatic leaves are the primary source of the plant's potent essential oils. When these essential oils are extracted through distillation, they provide a concentrated form of the plant's bioactive compounds, making the essential oil a highly sought-after ingredient in aromatherapy and herbal medicine.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 8
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| essential oil | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Marjoram | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Origanum majorana has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 51 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include linalool, flavonoids, terpinen-4-ol, Carvacrol, p-cymene.
- Total chemicals
- 38
- Scientific sources
- 51
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| linalool | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| terpinen-4-ol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Carvacrol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-cymene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sabinene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thymol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trans-sabinene hydrate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Origanum majorana has 12 reported activities identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fumigant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Origanum majorana has 43 reported medicinal uses identified across 50 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cancer, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus.
- Total uses
- 43
- Scientific sources
- 50
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterococcus faecalis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's Disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli O157: H7 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Haemophilus influenzae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |