One of the most esteemed herbs in the culinary world, rosemary is also a powerhouse in traditional medicine

( Natural News ) Previous studies have shown that rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) has many different therapeutic applications. These studies were collated by researchers from Pars Bioscience Research Center and University of Kansas-City Missouri to create a meta-analysis that would evaluate the preservative and therapeutic potential of rosemary . Relevant studies were collected from different public databases, using the search words “ Rosmarinus officinalis ,” “ R. officinalis ,” and “rosemary.” From this, they were able to gather over 80 articles that were then reviewed, summarized, and organized based on their topics. The researchers were able to recognize eight major properties of rosemary . These are antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antidepressant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities. Among the many properties of rosemary, its antioxidant activity remains to be the most well studied and well documented. Previous studies have shown that certain compounds are present in rosemary that can be attributed for antioxidant activity . These include phenolic compounds, such as carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosemarinic acid. Compounds found in rosemary utilize several pathways to achieve the antioxidant effect. Some work by scavenging free radicals, while others work by preventing lipid peroxidation, or increasing antioxidant activity of enzymes in the body. These mechanisms protect the body from oxidative stress that can lead to other diseases. This is why the antioxidant activity of rosemary is fundamental to its other therapeutic applications. Rosemary also exhibits antimicrobial activity against fungi and bacteria. Similar to antioxidant effect, the antimicrobial activity of rosemary is also dependent on the compounds that it contains. These include camphor, camphene, and borneol. Previous studies have also shown that rosemary can inhibit bacterial drug resistance by increasing the permeability of the bacterial membrane. The potent antimicrobial activity of rosemary makes it a promising substitute for artificial preservatives. Another property […]

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