View source for Oregano

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Origanum vulgare - harilik pune.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn|last=Khela|first=S.|year=2012|title=Origanum vulgare (Europe assessment)|article-number=e.T203253A2762598}}</ref>
| genus = Origanum
| species = vulgare
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]]
}}

'''Oregano''' ({{IPAc-en|US|ɔː|ˈ|r|ɛ|g|ə|n|oʊ|,_|ə|-}},<ref name="Collins">{{cite web|url=http://www.CollinsDictionary.com/dictionary/american/oregano?showCookiePolicy=true|title=American: Oregano|access-date=25 September 2014|publisher=Collins Dictionary|date=n.d.}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|ɒr|ɪ|ˈ|ɡ|ɑː|n|əʊ}};<ref name="Collins2">{{cite web|url=http://www.CollinsDictionary.com/dictionary/english/oregano?showCookiePolicy=true|title=British: Oregano|access-date=25 September 2014|publisher=Collins Dictionary}}</ref> '''''Origanum vulgare''''') is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the [[mint family]], Lamiaceae. It was native to the [[Mediterranean region]], but widely naturalised elsewhere in the [[temperate climate|temperate]] Northern Hemisphere.

Oregano is a woody [[perennial]] plant, growing to {{convert|90|cm|abbr=on}} tall, with [[opposite leaves]] {{convert|1|–|4|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long. The flowers which can be white, pink or light purple, are {{convert|3|–|4|mm|in|frac=16|abbr=on}} long, and produced in erect spikes in summer. It is sometimes called '''wild marjoram''', while its close relative ''[[Origanum majorana|O.&nbsp;majorana]]'' is known as sweet marjoram. Both are widely used as [[Herb|culinary herbs]], especially in Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Latin, and French cuisine. Oregano is also an [[ornamental plant]], with numerous [[cultivar]]s bred for varying leaf colour, flower colour and habit.

==Etymology==
The English word "oregano" is a borrowing of the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] {{lang|es|orégano}}, which derives from the [[Latin]] {{lang|la|orīganum}}, which itself comes from [[Classical Greek]] {{lang|grc|ὀρίγανον}} (''orī́ganon'').<ref name="oed">{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=oregano|title=Oregano|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, Inc. |access-date=6 October 2016}}</ref> The ultimate origin is disputed; some claim it is a compound Greek term that consists of {{lang|grc|ὄρος}} (''óros'') meaning "mountain", and {{lang|grc|γάνος}} (''gános'') meaning "joy", thus, "joy of the mountain"<ref name=oed/> while ''The Oxford English Dictionary'' states it is "probably a loanword [as] the plant comes from Africa".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/the-etymology-of-oregano-and-marjoram|title=The Etymology of Oregano and Marjoram|last=Dean|first=Sam|date=21 June 2013|website=Bon Appetit|access-date=9 October 2023}}</ref>

==Description==
Oregano is a [[perennial]],<ref name="W21">{{cite web |title=Origanum vulgare L. oregano |url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ORVU |access-date=30 January 2011 |publisher=Plants Database, United States Department of Agriculture}}</ref><ref name="W1">{{cite web |title=Growing Culinary Herbs in Ontario |url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/02-049.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719222438/http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/02-049.htm |archive-date=19 July 2010 |access-date=30 January 2011 |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs}}</ref> although it is grown as an [[Annual plant|annual]] in colder climates, as it often does not survive the winter.<ref name="B266">{{cite book |last=Peter |first=K. V. |title=Handbook of herbs and spices |publisher=Woodhead Publishing Limited |year=2004 |isbn=1-85573-721-3 |volume=2 |location=Abington Hall, Abington |page=219 |chapter=14.3.1 Growth habit of wild oregano populations |access-date=30 January 2011 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jITovbFEuO8C&pg=PA215}}</ref><ref name="aW1">{{cite web |date=September 2009 |title=Herbs |url=http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=b1d5ac77-718e-45d1-9aec-ccc6d293e4a1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003060853/http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=b1d5ac77-718e-45d1-9aec-ccc6d293e4a1 |archive-date=3 October 2011 |access-date=30 January 2011 |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan}}</ref>[[File:Origanum vulgare inflorescence - Keila.jpg|thumb|Inflorescence]]

It grows to {{Convert|90|cm}} tall and {{Convert|50|cm|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="tfb">{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=[[The Wildlife Trusts]] |location=London |page=87}}</ref> The [[leaves]] are spade-shaped and olive-green. The flowers are purple, pink or white,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vasb_v5BUkC&pg=PA17 |page=17 |title=The Spice Kitchen: Everyday Cooking with Organic Spices |author1=Sara Engram |author2=Katie Luber |author3=Kimberly Toqe |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2009|isbn=978-0-7407-9062-1 }}</ref> {{Convert|4-7|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long and grouped in clusters.<ref name="tfb" />

Oregano is related to the herb [[marjoram]], sometimes being referred to as wild marjoram.

=== Chemistry ===
Oregano contains [[polyphenol]]s, including numerous [[flavones]].<ref name="Dragland2003">{{cite journal |last1=Dragland |first1=Steinar |last2=Senoo |first2=Haruki |last3=Wake |first3=Kenjiro |last4=Holte |first4=Kari |last5=Blomhoff |first5=Rune |date=1 May 2003 |title=Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants |url=http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12730411 |journal=Journal of Nutrition |volume=133 |issue=5 |pages=1286–90 |doi=10.1093/jn/133.5.1286 |issn=0022-3166 |pmid=12730411 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tair |first1=Asma |last2=Weiss |first2=Erika-Krisztina |last3=Palade |first3=Laurentiu Mihai |last4=Loupassaki |first4=Sofia |last5=Makris |first5=Dimitris P. |last6=Ioannou |first6=Efstathia |last7=Roussis |first7=Vassilios |last8=Kefalas |first8=Panagiotis |year=2014 |title=Origanum species native to the island of Crete: in vitro antioxidant characteristics and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry identification of major polyphenolic components |journal=[[Natural Product Research]] |volume=28 |issue=16 |pages=1284–7 |doi=10.1080/14786419.2014.896011 |pmid=24635145 |s2cid=42500633}}</ref>

The essential oil of oregano is composed primarily of [[monoterpenoid]]s and [[monoterpene]]s, with the relative concentration of each compound varying widely across geographic origin and other factors. Over 60 different compounds have been identified, with the primary ones being [[carvacrol]] and [[thymol]] ranging to over 80%, while lesser abundant compounds include {{nowrap|[[p-cymene|''p''-cymene]]}}, {{nowrap|[[γ-terpinene]]}}, caryophyllene, [[spathulenol]], [[germacrene D]], [[β-fenchyl alcohol]] and {{nowrap|[[δ-terpineol]]}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Teixeira |first1=Bárbara |last2=Marques |first2=António |last3=Ramos |first3=Cristina |last4=Serrano |first4=Carmo |last5=Matos |first5=Olívia |last6=Neng |first6=Nuno R |last7=Nogueira |first7=José M F |last8=Saraiva |first8=Jorge Alexandre |last9=Nunes |first9=Maria Leonor |year=2013 |title=Chemical composition and bioactivity of different oregano (''Origanum vulgare'') extracts and essential oil |journal=[[Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture]] |volume=93 |issue=11 |pages=2707–14 |bibcode=2013JSFA...93.2707T |doi=10.1002/jsfa.6089 |pmid=23553824}}</ref>

Drying of the plant material affects both quantity and distribution of volatile compounds, with methods using higher heat and longer drying times having greater negative impact. A sample of fresh whole plant material found to contain 33 g/kg dry weight (3.1 g/kg wet) decreased to below a third after warm-air convection drying. Much higher concentrations of volatile compounds are achieved towards the end of the growing season.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Figiel |first1=Adam |last2=Szumny |first2=Antoni |last3=Gutiérrez-Ortíz |first3=Antonio |last4=Carbonell-Barrachina |first4=Ángel A. |year=2010 |title=Composition of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) as affected by drying method |journal=[[Journal of Food Engineering]] |volume=98 |issue=2 |pages=240–7 |doi=10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.01.002}}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Majorana syriaca - za'atar.jpg|thumb|right|[[Syrian oregano]] (''Origanum syriacum'')]]
[[File:Bombus lucorum - Origanum vulgare - Keila.jpg|thumbnail|Pollination by [[white-tailed bumblebee]]]]
[[File:S oregano.png|thumb|Oregano leaves]]
[[File:Origanum vulgare young plant 2.JPG|thumb|right|Young plant]]
Many subspecies and strains of oregano have been developed by humans over centuries for their unique flavours or other characteristics. Tastes range from spicy or astringent to more complicated and sweet. Simple oregano sold in garden stores as ''O.&nbsp;vulgare'' may have a bland taste and larger, less-dense leaves, and is not considered the best for culinary use, with a taste less remarkable and pungent. It can pollinate other more sophisticated strains, but the offspring are rarely better in quality.

The related species ''[[Origanum onites]]'' (Greece, Turkey) and ''O.&nbsp;syriacum'' (West Asia) have similar flavours. A closely related plant is marjoram from Turkey, which differs significantly in taste because [[natural phenol|phenolic compounds]] are missing from its essential oil. Some varieties show a flavour intermediate between oregano and marjoram.

===Subspecies===
Accepted subspecies:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=143954|title=Oregano, ''Origanum vulgare'' L.|publisher=Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK|date=2017}}</ref>
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''glandulosum'' <small>(Desf.) Ietsw.</small> – [[Tunisia]], [[Algeria]]
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''gracile''  <small>(K.Koch) Ietsw.</small> (= ''O. tyttanthum'') has glossy green leaves and pink flowers. It grows well in pots or containers, and is more often grown for added ornamental value than other oregano. The flavor is pungent and spicy.<ref name=drugs/> – Central Asia, [[Iran]], [[India]], [[Turkey]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]]. 
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''hirtum''  <small>(Link) Ietsw.</small> – (Italian oregano, Greek oregano) is a common source of cultivars with a different aroma<ref name=drugs/> from those of ''O. v. gracile''. Growth is vigorous and very hardy, with darker green, slightly hairy foliage. Generally, it is considered the best all-purpose culinary subspecies. – [[Greece]], Balkans, Turkey, [[Cyprus]]
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''virens'' <small>(Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw.</small> – [[Iberian Peninsula]], [[Macaronesia]], [[Morocco]]
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''viridulum'' <small>(Martrin-Donos) Nyman</small> – widespread from [[Corsica]] to [[Nepal]] 
# ''O. v.'' subsp. ''vulgare'' – widespread across Europe + Asia from [[Ireland]] to [[China]]; naturalized in North America + [[Venezuela]]

===Cultivars===
Example [[cultivar]]s of oregano include:
* 'Aureum' – golden foliage (greener if grown in shade), mild taste: It has gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]]<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – ''Origanum vulgare'' 'Aureum'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89773/Origanum-vulgare-Aureum/Details | access-date = 16 January 2021}}</ref> 
* 'Greek Kaliteri' – ''O. v.'' subsp. ''hirtum'' strains/[[landrace]]s, small, hardy, dark, compact, thick, silvery-haired leaves, usually with purple undersides, excellent reputation for flavor and pungency, as well as medicinal uses, strong, archetypal oregano flavor ([[Greek (language)|Greek]] ''kaliteri'': the best)
* 'Hot & Spicy' – ''O. v.'' subsp. ''hirtum'' strain
* 'Nana' – dwarf cultivar
Cultivars traded as Italian, Sicilian, etc. are usually hardy sweet marjoram ([[Origanum × majoricum|''O.'' × ''majoricum'']]), a [[hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between the southern [[Adriatic]] ''O. v.'' subsp. ''hirtum'' and sweet marjoram (''O.&nbsp;majorana''). They have a reputation for sweet and spicy tones, with little bitterness, and are prized for their flavor and compatibility with various recipes and sauces.

==Cultivation==
Oregano is planted in early spring, the plants being spaced {{convert|12|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} apart in fairly dry soil, with full sun. It will grow in a pH range between 6.0 (mildly acidic) and 9.0 (strongly alkaline), with a preferred range between 6.0 and 8.0. It prefers a hot, relatively dry climate, but does well in other environments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2012 |title=Oregano and Marjoram |url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/CropOp/en/herbs/culinary/orega.html |access-date=31 January 2017 |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Canada}}</ref>

==Uses==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2017}}

===Culinary===
[[File:Oregano (অরেগানো).JPG|thumb|Dried oregano leaves]]

Oregano is a [[culinary herb]], used for the flavour of its leaves, which can be more intense when dried than fresh. It has an earthy, warm, and slightly bitter taste, which can vary in intensity. Good-quality oregano may be strong enough to almost numb the tongue, but cultivars adapted to colder climates may have a lesser flavour. Factors such as climate, season, and soil composition may affect the aromatic oils present, and this effect may be greater than the differences between the various species of plants. Among the chemical compounds contributing to the flavour are [[carvacrol]], [[thymol]], [[limonene]], [[pinene]], [[ocimene]], and [[caryophyllene]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00474-X |pmid=11336262 |title=The essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. Ssp. Vulgare growing wild in Vilnius district (Lithuania) |journal=Phytochemistry |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=65–9 |year=2001 |last1=Mockute |first1=Danute |last2=Bernotiene |first2=Genovaite |last3=Judzentiene |first3=Asta |bibcode=2001PChem..57...65M }}</ref>

Oregano is the staple herb of [[Italian cuisine]], most frequently used with roasted, fried, or grilled vegetables, meat, and fish. Oregano combines well with spicy foods popular in [[Southern Italy]]. It is less commonly used in the north of the country, as marjoram is generally preferred. Its popularity in the U.S. began when soldiers returning from [[World War II]] brought back with them a taste for the "pizza herb", which had probably been eaten in Southern Italy for centuries.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martyris |first=Nina |date=9 May 2015 |title=GIs Helped Bring Freedom To Europe, And A Taste For Oregano To America |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/05/09/405302961/gis-helped-bring-freedom-to-europe-and-a-taste-for-oregano-to-america |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref> 

Oregano is widely used in [[cuisine]]s of the [[Mediterranean Basin]] and [[Latin American cuisine|Latin America]], especially in [[Mexican cuisine]] and [[Argentine cuisine]]. In Turkish cuisine, oregano is mostly used for flavouring meat, especially mutton and lamb. In barbecue and [[kebab]] restaurants,{{Clarify|reason=does this refer to a restaurant in Turkey that serves various kebab dishes, or a kebab shop that sells fast-food [[Doner kebab]]?|date=May 2016}} it can be usually found as a [[condiment]], together with [[paprika]], salt, and pepper.

During the summer, generous amounts of dried oregano are often added as a topping to a tomato and cucumber salad in [[Portugal]], but it can be used to season meat and fish dishes as well. In [[Spain]], apart from seasoning, it is used in preparations of a variety of traditional dishes such as ''morcilla'' (Iberian pig blood sausage) and [[adobo]] sauce for fish and meat. The dried and ground leaves are most often used in Greece to add flavour to [[Greek salad]], and is usually added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies fish or meat grills and casseroles. In Albania, dried oregano is often used to make herbal tea which is especially popular in the northern part of Albania.

===Oregano oil===
{{Update section|date=July 2025}}
[[File:OreganoEssentialOil.png|thumb|Oregano essential oil in a clear glass vial]]

Oregano oil has been used in [[Traditional medicine|folk medicine]] over centuries.<ref name="drugs">{{cite web | url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/oregano.html | title=Oregano | publisher=Drugs.com | date=2016 | access-date=7 October 2016}}</ref> Oregano [[essential oil]] is extracted from the leaves of the oregano plant. Although oregano or its oil may be used as a [[dietary supplement]], there is no clinical evidence to indicate that either has any effect on human health.<ref name=drugs/><ref name="mp">{{cite web | url=https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/644.html | title=Oregano | publisher=MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine | date=2016 | access-date=7 October 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) warned a [[Utah]] company, [[Young Living]], that its herbal products, including oregano essential oil, were being promoted to have numerous unproven anti-disease effects, and so were being sold as unauthorized misbranded [[prescription drug|drugs]] subject to seizure and federal penalties.<ref name="fda">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/young-living-09222014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524205555/https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/young-living-09222014|archive-date=24 May 2019|title=Warning Letter: Young Living|author=LaTonya M. Mitchell|publisher= Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration|date=22 September 2014|access-date=7 October 2016}}</ref> Similar FDA [[FDA warning letter|warning letters]] for false advertising and unproven [[health claim]]s about oregano essential oil products were published in 2017 and 2018.<ref name="fda2">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/absonutrix-508557-07252017|title=Warning Letter: Absonutrix|author=Ingrid A. Zambrana|publisher= Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration|date=25 July 2017|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="fda3">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/long-life-unlimited-533282-01312018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909001450/https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/long-life-unlimited-533282-01312018|archive-date=9 September 2019|title=Warning Letter: Long Life Unlimited|author=Kimberly L. McMillan|publisher= Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration|date=31 January 2018|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref>

==Other plants called "oregano"==
* ''[[Coleus amboinicus]]'', known as Cuban oregano, {{lang|es|orégano poleo}} ('[[Hedeoma|pennyroyal]] oregano'), {{lang|fr|orégano francés}} ('French oregano'), Mexican mint, Mexican thyme, and many other names, is also of the mint family (Lamiaceae).  It has large and somewhat [[succulent]] leaves.  Common throughout the tropics, including Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, it is probably of eastern-hemisphere origin.
* ''[[Lippia graveolens]]'', Mexican oregano, known in Spanish as {{lang|es|orégano cimarrón}} ('wild oregano'), is not in the mint family, but in the related [[vervain family]] (Verbenaceae). The flavor of Mexican oregano has a stronger savory component instead of the piney hint of rosemary-like flavor in true oregano, and its citrus accent might be more aromatic than in oregano. It is becoming more commonly sold outside of Mexico, especially in the southeastern United States. It is sometimes used as a substitute for [[epazote]] leaves.<!-- Move most of this material – to the extent any of it can be sourced – to the article on that plant. See WP:COATRACK. -->
* ''[[Hedeoma patens]]'', known in Spanish as {{lang|es|orégano chiquito}} ('small oregano'), is also among the Lamiaceae.  It is used as an herb in the Mexican states of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]] and [[Coahuila]].
* ''[[Poliomintha]] longiflora'', common names: Mexican oregano and  rosemary mint, is native to Mexico and also grown and used in the United States.

==See also==
* ''[[Thymus vulgaris]]'', thyme

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Origanum vulgare}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Cookbook-inline|Oregano}}
* [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Origanum+&SPECIES_XREF=vulgare&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Origanum vulgare'']
* [https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=25913 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Origanum vulgare'']

{{Herbs & spices}}
{{Medicinal herbs & fungi}}
{{Transient receptor potential channel modulators}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q134283}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Origanum]]
[[Category:Flora of the Mediterranean basin]]
[[Category:Mediterranean cuisine]]
[[Category:Cuisine of New Mexico]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]