marjoram

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• marjoram
• marjoram
• Pot Majoram
• Pot Marjoram
• Pot Marjorum
• sweet marjoram

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Origanum syriacum subsp. dubium
• Majorana ovatifolia
• Amaracus majorana
• Thymus majorana
• Majorana dubia
• Majorana fragrans
• Origanum majorana var. majoranoides
• Majorana hortensis
• Origanum majorana var. tenuifolium
• Majorana cretica var. hortorum
• Majorana mexicana
• Origanum majoranoides
• Majorana ovalifolia
• Origanum salvifolium
• Majorana suffruticosa
• Origanum dubium
• Majorana tenuifolia
• Origanum confertum
• Majorana tenuifolia
• Majorana uncinata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Origanum majorana is characterized by a significant adaptability to various environments, being widely grown and found predominantly in cultivation within hot and temperate climates. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying ecological niches that span from sea level up to an elevation of 2500 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range, from 0 to 2500 m AMSL, allows the plant to persist in diverse topographical conditions, provided the climatic requirements of warmth or temperate stability are met.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

widely grown, in cultivation mostly in hot and temperate climates

Life history

The life history of Origanum majorana is characterized by a complex biological strategy that allows it to persist across different seasonal cycles. As a perennial species, it maintains a long-term presence in its habitat, though its developmental expression can be variable depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural survival strategy, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennial buds are protected at or just below the soil surface during unfavorable periods. Additionally, its life history incorporates elements of a therophyte, reflecting a capacity to complete life cycles through seed production that ensures survival even when the vegetative structures face dormancy or seasonal shifts.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Origanum majorana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, vine, or liana. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively low profile with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.325 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.325 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Origanum majorana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic approach is typical for most temperate aromatic herbs, allowing the plant to function efficiently under moderate light and temperature conditions. Furthermore, the species is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system for the uptake of water and essential mineral nutrients from the soil rather than capturing or digesting insects to supplement its nutritional requirements.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Origanum majorana is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering period occurs during the warmer months, typically starting in July and concluding in September. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Regarding its seed characteristics, the production of seeds is characterized by a very small mass; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.0006025 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.00089 g to a maximum of 0.00089 g. Seed dispersal follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous traits, indicating that human activity plays a role in the movement and distribution of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00089 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0006025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Origanum majorana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Folia microbiologica
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Chemicals

Origanum majorana has 164 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVACROL, Linalool, Flavonoids, Terpinen-4-ol, P-CYMENE.

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Current molecular pharmacology
5. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Linalool

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Biology

Terpinen-4-ol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientific reports
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

SABINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

THYMOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

trans-Sabinene hydrate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

EO

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biology

Activities

Origanum majorana has 652 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. RSC advances
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Iranian journal of microbiology
5. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Iranian journal of microbiology
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. RSC advances
3. Iranian journal of microbiology
4. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. RSC advances

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemopreventive

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Origanum majorana has 43 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cancer, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Drug design, development and therapy
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. PloS one
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

E. coli

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Drug design, development and therapy

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Alzheimer's disease

1. Molecules and cells

Escherichia coli o157: h7

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Haemophilus influenzae

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Origanum majorana has 23 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil, essential oils, Essential Oil, Extracts, ethanolic extract.

Essential oil

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. RSC advances
3. Scientific reports
4. Iranian journal of microbiology

Essential oils

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Essential oil

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extract

1. PloS one
2. Biomolecules

Extracts

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Eo

1. Biology

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS

Oe

1. RSC advances

Oeo

1. RSC advances