Oregano As Herbal Treatment For Prostate Cancer

Oregano is known for its aromatic and balsamic flavor that it adds to most dishes. Popular in Italian dishes such as pasta and pizza, Oregano also figures prominently in Mediterranean and Mexican food.

The herb is also used as herbal medicine for skin burns, cuts, and bruises. Because of the minty flavor of oregano, it is also used as herbal remedy for sore throat, asthma, colds, coughs and flu.

It is a pernnial plant that grows in warm temparate areas. It is native in India, western and southern Eurasia and Mediterranean countries.

Oregano grows from 20–80 cm tall. It has opposite heart-shaped leaves that is around 3 to 9 cm long and purple flowers 3–4 mm long. The flowers are produced in erect spikes.

It is sometimes called wild marjoram, and its close relative, Origanum majorana, is known as sweet marjoram. The common question is if oreganos and marjorams are the same. To clarify this, marjorams have a gentler sweeter flavor and is less pungent than oregano. All marjorams are oreganos since they come from the same genus (Origanum) but not all oreganos are marjorams. Marjorams are a variety of oregano hence the confusion.

Component of pizza seasoning herb oregano kills prostate cancer cells

Oregano, the common pizza and pasta seasoning herb, has long been known to possess a variety of beneficial health effects, but a new study by researchers at Long Island University (LIU) indicates that an ingredient of this spice could potentially be used to treat prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the prostate gland and usually occurs in older men. Recent data shows that about 1 in 36 men will die of prostate cancer. Estimated new cases and deaths from this disease condition in the US in 2012 alone are 241,740 and 28,170, respectively. Current treatment options for patients include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immune therapy. Unfortunately, these are associated with considerable complications and/or severe side effects.

Video: Medicinal Uses of Oregano

Dr. Supriya Bavadekar, PhD, RPh, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at LIU's Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, is currently testing carvacrol, a constituent of oregano, on prostate cancer cells. The results of her study demonstrate that the compound induces apoptosis in these cells. Apoptosis, Dr. Bavadekar explains, is programmed cell death, or simply "cell suicide." Dr. Bavadekar and her group are presently trying to determine the signaling pathways that the compound employs to bring about cancer cell suicide.

"We know that oregano possesses anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on cancer cells really elevate the spice to the level of a super-spice like turmeric," said Dr. Bavadekar. Though the study is at its preliminary stage, she believes that the initial data indicates a huge potential in terms of carvacrol's use as an anti-cancer agent. "A significant advantage is that oregano is commonly used in food and has a 'Generally Recognized As Safe' status in the US. We expect this to translate into a decreased risk of severe toxic effects."

"Some researchers have previously shown that eating pizza may cut down cancer risk. This effect has been mostly attributed to lycopene, a substance found in tomato sauce, but we now feel that even the oregano seasoning may play a role," stated Dr. Bavadekar. "If the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may represent a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer." The results of the study will be presented at the Experimental Biology 2012 poster session on Tuesday, April 24.

Quantum Day

25 April 2012

Oregano As Herbal Treatment For Prostate Cancer