Oregano Antibacterial Active Ingredients

Origanum vulgare L., a perennial herb or sub-shrub plant of Labiatae, distribute in most provinces of China, is a traditional Chinese medicine which has been used to the treatment of some symptoms, such as cold, headache, stomachache, diarrhea, etc. Past pharmacological research show its activity of antibacterial, relieve pain, refrain inflammatory, adjust immunity. Based on pharmacological and clinical research, The chemical constituents of main antibacterial fraction and relevant quality research were conducted.The essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. were extracted by sterilize distillation (SD) and analyzed by GC-MS, 69 constituents were identified according to NIST MS database, the main constituents were thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, caryophyllene, terpineol. 27 constituents from this plant were discovered for the first time. The phytochemical study of this plant was also conducted. The constituents were extracted by some solvents. 18 constituents were isolated from Chloroform fraction by different chromatography. 15 constituents were identified by IR ,MS and NMR as follows: (3-sitosterol, P-sitosterylpalm itate,succinate acids, 1, 4-benzenediol, 1, 2-benzenediol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, syringaresinol, oleanolic acid, usolic acid, ethyl caffeate , Rosmarinic acid ethylster and etc. In such constituents ,nine compounds were isolated for first time from Origanum vulgare L..A new technology, Supercritical Fluid CO₂ Extraction, was also supplied to study the plant. The technological parameter was optimal. Total extract of SFE-CO₂ were 4.86 times of the essential oil extracted by SDE, main active extracted constituents were 1.36% high than SDE. The chemical constituents of SFE-CO₂ were also analyzed by GC-MS. 57 constituents were identified, 29 constituents of them were first discovered. 24 constituents were discovered in two extract.Fingerprint is a good technology to elevate the quality of herb medicine. The main active fraction can be extracted by SDE and SFE, Fingerprint was studied respective, chromatographic parameter was acquired. 22 peaks were assigned common peaks in the spectrum of essential oil, 17 peaks were assigned to common peaks in the spectrum of SFE extract. All this common peaks were identified by GC-MS. Two methods were stable and reliable, can be supplied to evaluate the quality of Origanum vulgare L.