Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) Research

Latin Name: Origanum majorana

Family: Lamiaceae

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

*Therapeutic Action Research listed below includes a variety of chemotypes of Marjoram*

GENERAL

• Lis-Balchin, M. (2006). Aromatherapy Science: A guide for healthcare professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press.
• Peace Rhind, J.  (2012). Essential oils.  A handbook for aromatherapy practice.  Singing Drangon.  London.
• Petersen, D. (2015). Aromatherapy materia medica.  Essential oil monographs.  American College of Healthcare Sciences.
• Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014).  Essential Oil Safety.  Second Edition.  Churchill, Livingstone, Elsevier.
• WebMD.  (n.d.). Marjoram.  Retrieved in February, 2016.  Retrieved from www.webmd.com.

SAFETY

**With a significant chemo-variations, safety considerations can be different among chemotypes.  The sweet type has the least contraindications.**

• Frequently adultered with terpeneol (Petersen, 2015).  May also be adultered with other oils such as tee tree, savory origanum, thyme, or ajowan  (Lis-Balchin, 2006).
• May be mislabeled as wild marjoram or Spanish wild Marjoram (Petersen, 2015).
• Those who are allergic to other plants in the Lamiaceae family may have a reaction to marjoram (Petersen, 2015).
• Some constituents may cause cancer if overused (Petersen, 2015).
• Not for use with those having depression or hypotension (Petersen, 2015).
• Skin patch test is required due to toxic constituents (Petersen, 2015).
• Avoid use during pregnancy and lactation; stimulates menstruation (Petersen, 2015).
• Avoid with bleeding disorders, may reduce clotting and increase bruising.  Also do not take medicinal amounts up to two weeks before and after surgery to avoid excessive bleeding (WebMD, n.d.).
• May slow heart rate, avoid medicinal use of marjoram with bradycardia (WebMD, n.d.)
• Can lower blood sugar levels, avoid medical use in those with diabetes (WebMD, n.d.)
• Avoid with gastro-intestinal blockage; may cause congestion (WebMD, n.d.)
• With ulcers, marjoram used in medicinal amounts may increase secretion and worsen a condition (WebMD, n.d.)
• May worsen some lung conditions like asthma or emphysemia by increasing fluid secretion (WebMD, n.d.)
• Using medicinal amounts of marjoram may increase seizures (WebMD, n.d.)
• May increase urinary obstruction when taken in medicinal quantities (WebMd, n.d.)

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL / ANTIVIRAL

• The fungus, Penicillium digitatum, was inhibited completely by oregano, thyme, dictamus, and marjoram essential oils at low concentrations.  From:  Daferera, D. J., Ziogas, B. N., & Polissiou, M. G. (2000). GC-MS analysis of essential oils from some Greek aromatic plants and their fungitoxicity on Penicillium digitatum. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 48(6), 2576-2581.
• Basil, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity on foodborne pathogens.  From:  Gutierrez, J., Rodriguez, G., Barry-Ryan, C., & Bourke, P. (2008). Efficacy of plant essential oils against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria associated with ready-to-eat vegetables: antimicrobial and sensory screening. Journal of Food Protection®, 71(9), 1846-1854.
• Sweet fennel, marjoram, mint, oregano, sage, savory, and thyme showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus species. From:  Özcan, M. M., Sagdıç, O., & Özkan, G. (2006). Inhibitory effects of spice essential oils on the growth of Bacillus species. Journal of medicinal food, 9(3), 418-421.
• Extracts of O. majorana were effective against different pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and highly toxic against the growth of Aspergillus niger.   From;  Leeja, L., & Thoppil, J. E. (2007). Antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of Origanum majorana L.(Sweet marjoram). Journal of Environmental Biology, 28(1), 145.
• Lemon balm, marjoram, oregano and thyme essential oils showed antimicrobial activity against food spoilage bacteria.  From: Gutierrez, J., Barry-Ryan, C., & Bourke, P. (2009). Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils using food model media: efficacy, synergistic potential and interactions with food components. Food microbiology, 26(2), 142-150.
• Plant oils of 52 species were tested against key bacteria.  Lemongrass, oregano and bay inhibited all organisms, and rosewood, coriander, palmarosa, tea tree, niaouli, peppermint, spearmint, sage and marjoram inhibited all organisms except P. aeruginosa.  Carrot, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver inhibited Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. Myrrh and cypress inhibited only Gram-positive organisms and mandarin oil inhibited only C. albicans.  From:  Hammer, K. A., Carson, C. F., & Riley, T. V. (1999).
• O. majorana with the chemistry: Trans-sabinene hydrate (16.%), sabinene (14%), cis-sabinene hydrate (12 %), γ-terpinene (10%),α-terpinyl acetate (10%), α-terpinene (9%), and terpinen-4-ol showed antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in vitro.  From:  Al-Fatimi, M. (2018). Volatile constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the aerial parts of Origanum majorana L. from Yemen. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 1-10.
• Origanum majorana essential oil with thymol (19%), P-cymen (14%), 4-terpineol (13%), γ-terpineol (11%), α-terpineol (6%), linaleol (5%) and caryophyllene (4%) was antibacterial against E. coli in vitro.  From:  Mohammadi, S. F., Moradkhani, S., & Moghaddam, M. (2018). Study on the effects of origanum majorana essential oil on E. coli and the Chemical constituents of Essential oil. International Pharmacy Acta, 1(1), 137-137.
• Antibacterial abilities of 96 essential oils and their constituents were assessed. Marigold, ginger, jasmine, patchouli, gardenia, cedarwood, carrot seed, celery seed, mugwort, spikenard, and orange bitter oils along with the constituents of cinnamaldehyde, estragole, carvacrol, benzaldehyde, citral, thymol, eugenol, perillaldehyde, carvone R, and geranyl acetate were strongest against C. jejuni.  Those most active against E. coli were oregano, thyme, cinnamon, palmarosa, bay leaf, clove bud, lemon grass, and allspice oils and the constituents: carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, geraniol, isoeugenol, citral, perillaldehyde, and estragole.  Those most active against L. monocytogenes were gardenia, cedarwood, bay leaf, clove bud, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, thyme, and patchouli and the constituents of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, citral, geraniol, perillaldehyde, carvone S, estragole, and salicylaldehyde.  Those most active against S. enterica were thyme, oregano, cinnamon, clove bud, allspice, bay leaf, palmarosa, and marjoram oils as well as thymol, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, geraniol, isoeugenol, terpineol, perillaldehyde, and estragole.  From:  Friedman, M., Henika, P. R., & Mandrell, R. E. (2002). Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. Journal of Food Protection®, 65(10), 1545-1560.
• Basil, clove, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme exhibited antibacterial activities on a foodborne pathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  From:  Yano, Y., Satomi, M., & Oikawa, H. (2006). Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Vibrio parahaemolyticus. International journal of food microbiology, 111(1), 6-11.
• Origanum compactum and O. majorana were inhibitory to a variety of yeast, mold, and bacteria species.  From:  Charai, M., Mosaddak, M., & Faid, M. (1996). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of two aromatic plants: Origanum majorana L. and O. compactum Benth. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 8(6), 657-664.  Link:
• Cloves, thyme, oregano, allspice, basil, rosemary, and marjoram showed antimicrobial effects on Shigella species.  From:  Bagamboula, C. F., Uyttendaele, M., & Debevere, J. (2003). Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri. Journal of Food Protection®, 66(4), 668-673.
• Thyme, cinnamon, bay, clove, almond (bitter), lovage, pimento, marjoram, angelica and nutmeg, and geranium showed strong inhibitory action against multiple bacteria.  From:  Deans, S. G., & Ritchie, G. (1987). Antibacterial properties of plant essential oils. International journal of food microbiology, 5(2), 165-180.
• This Origanum type high in rosmarinic acid showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity in vitro.  From:  Duletić-Laušević, S., Aradski, A. A., Kolarević, S., Vuković-Gačić, B., Oalđe, M., Živković, J., … & Marin, P. D. (2018). Antineurodegenerative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and phenolic components of Origanum majorana L.(Lamiaceae) extracts. J. Applied Botany and Food Quality, 91, 126-134.
• Origanum majorana showed the best antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria.  From:  Joshi, B., Lekhak, S., & Sharma, A. (2009). Antibacterial property of different medicinal plants: Ocimum sanctum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Xanthoxylum armatum and Origanum majorana. Kathmandu university journal of science, engineering and technology, 5(1), 143-150.
• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.
• Roman chamomile, curry plant, hyssop, lavandin, marjoram sweet, orange mint, spearmint, monarda, oregano, rosemary, rue sage, tansy, tarragon, thyme common and yarrow showed vapor activity against the fungi that causes ringworm. From:  Inouye, S., Uchida, K., & Abe, S. (2006). Volatile composition and vapour activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes of 36 aromatic herbs cultivated in Chichibu district in Japan. International Journal of Aromatherapy, 16(3), 159-168.
• An essential oil blend with a Greek hyssop, sage, and marjoram essential oil was virucidal against influenza viruses and the rhinovirus in vitro. From: Tseliou, M., Pirintsos, S. A., Lionis, C., Castanas, E., & Sourvinos, G. (2019). Antiviral effect of an essential oil combination derived from three aromatic plants (Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Rchb. f., Origanum dictamnus L. and Salvia fruticosa Mill.) against viruses causing infections of the upper respiratory tract. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 17, 100288.

PRESERVATIVE

• Basil, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity on foodborne pathogens.  From:  Gutierrez, J., Rodriguez, G., Barry-Ryan, C., & Bourke, P. (2008). Efficacy of plant essential oils against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria associated with ready-to-eat vegetables: antimicrobial and sensory screening. Journal of Food Protection®, 71(9), 1846-1854.
• Lemon balm, marjoram, oregano and thyme essential oils showed antimicrobial activity against food spoilage bacteria.  From: Gutierrez, J., Barry-Ryan, C., & Bourke, P. (2009). Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils using food model media: efficacy, synergistic potential and interactions with food components. Food microbiology, 26(2), 142-150.
• Basil, clove, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme exhibited antibacterial activities on a foodborne pathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  From:  Yano, Y., Satomi, M., & Oikawa, H. (2006). Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Vibrio parahaemolyticus. International journal of food microbiology, 111(1), 6-11.
• Cloves, thyme, oregano, allspice, basil, rosemary, and marjoram showed antimicrobial effects on Shigella species.  From:  Bagamboula, C. F., Uyttendaele, M., & Debevere, J. (2003). Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri. Journal of Food Protection®, 66(4), 668-673.

ANTIOXIDANT

• 423 essential oils from 48 different botanical families were evaluated for their antioxidant activities as free radical scavenging agents.  Results identified oils of the botanical families Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae as the most effective antioxidants, with thymol, eugenol, and carvacrol being the major constituents. From:  Anthony, K. P., Deolu‐Sobogun, S. A., & Saleh, M. A. (2012). Comprehensive assessment of antioxidant activity of essential oils. Journal of food science, 77(8), C839-C843.
• Species of thyme, savory, sweet marjoram, and oregano showed varying types of antioxidant abilities.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Bachmayer, O., Kosar, M., & Hiltunen, R. (2004). Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected Lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(4), 762-770.
• Oxidative cell death was reduced by ursolic acid from Origanum majorana.  From:  Heo, H. J., Cho, H. Y., Hong, B., Kim, H. K., Heo, T. R., Kim, E. K., … & Shin, D. H. (2002). Ursolic acid of Origanum majorana L. reduces Abeta-induced oxidative injury. Molecules and cells, 13(1), 5-11.
• Marjoram essential oil had significant natural antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity.   From:  Mossa, A. H., & Nawwar, G. A. (2011). Free radical scavenging and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of Origanum majorana L. essential oil. Human & experimental toxicology, 0960327110391686.
• Antioxidant activity of two marjoram species from two separate locations was assessed.  From:  Vagi, E., Rapavi, E., Hadolin, M., Vasarhelyine Peredi, K., Balazs, A., Blazovics, A., & Simandi, B. (2005). Phenolic and triterpenoid antioxidants from Origanum majorana L. herb and extracts obtained with different solvents. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(1), 17-21.
• Sweet marjoram, sage, and dittany extracts were found to have a remarkable capacity in retarding lipid oxidation and may be useful in an herbal tea concoction.  From:  Triantaphyllou, Georgios Blekas, Dimitrios Boskou, K. (2001). Antioxidative properties of water extracts obtained from herbs of the species Lamiaceae. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 52(4), 313-317.
• This Origanum type high in rosmarinic acid showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity in vitro.  From:  Duletić-Laušević, S., Aradski, A. A., Kolarević, S., Vuković-Gačić, B., Oalđe, M., Živković, J., … & Marin, P. D. (2018). Antineurodegenerative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and phenolic components of Origanum majorana L.(Lamiaceae) extracts. J. Applied Botany and Food Quality, 91, 126-134.
• O. majorana with the chemistry: Trans-sabinene hydrate (16.%), sabinene (14%), cis-sabinene hydrate (12 %), γ-terpinene (10%),α-terpinyl acetate (10%), α-terpinene (9%), terpinen-4-ol. Showed antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in vitro.  From:  Al-Fatimi, M. (2018). Volatile constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the aerial parts of Origanum majorana L. from Yemen. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 1-10.
• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.

ANTI-CANCER

• Marjoram extract was anti-proliferative and showed high antioxidant activity against human leukemia cells. From:  Abdel-Massih, R. M., Fares, R., Bazzi, S., El-Chami, N., & Baydoun, E. (2010). The apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity of Origanum majorana extracts on human leukemic cell line. Leukemia research, 34(8), 1052-1056.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

• Marjoram extract reduced gastric ulcers in rats.  From:  Al-Howiriny, T., Alsheikh, A., Alqasoumi, S., Al-Yahya, M., ElTahir, K., & Rafatullah, S. (2009). Protective Effect of Origanum majorana L.’Marjoram’on various models of gastric mucosal injury in rats. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 37(03), 531-545.
• Marjoram increased basal acid and pepsin secretion in rats. From:  Rafsanjani, F. N., Shahrani, M., Ardakani, Z. V., & Ardakani, M. V. (2007). Marjoram increases basal gastric acid and pepsin secretions in rat. Phytotherapy Research, 21(11), 1036-1038.
• In vitro tests show Origanum majorana may help reduce infectious diarrhea.  From:  Makrane, H., Aziz, M., Mekhfi, H., Ziyyat, A., Legssyer, A., Melhaoui, A., … & Gressier, B. (2019). Origanum majorana L. extract exhibit positive cooperative effects on the main mechanisms involved in acute infectious diarrhea. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 239, 111503.

PESTICIDAL / INSECTICIDAL / REPELLENT

• Against larvae Spodoptera littoralis the following oils showed insecticidal activity: catnip,  white cedar, clary sage, thyme, marjoram, patchouli, pennyroyal, lemon mint, Melissa, and lavender.  From: Pavela, R. (2005). Insecticidal activity of some essential oils against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. Fitoterapia, 76(7), 691-696.
• Eucalyptus, marjoram, pennyroyal, and rosemary oils showed activity against human head lice.  From:  Yang, Y. C., Lee, H. S., Clark, J. M., & Ahn, Y. J. (2004). Insecticidal activity of plant essential oils against Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae). Journal of medical entomology, 41(4), 699-704.
• Against head lice, eucalyptus, marjoram, pennyroyal, and rosemary oils beat  δ-phenothrin and pyrethrum and activity of cade, cardamone ceylon, clove bud, myrtle, rosewood, and sage oils were comparable with the test insecticides.  From:  Yang, Y. C., Lee, H. S., Clark, J. M., & Ahn, Y. J. (2004). Insecticidal activity of plant essential oils against Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 41(4), 699-704.
• Rosemary and sweet marjoram where pesticidal and repellent against spider mites.  From:  Momen, F. M., Amer, S. A. A., & Refaat, A. M. (2001). Repellent and oviposition-deterring activity of rosemary and sweet marjoram on the spider mites Tetranychus urticae and Eutetranychus orientalis (Acari: Tetranychidae). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 36(1-2), 155-164.
• Certain monoterpenoids from O. majorana essential oil, including linalool, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol may be effective in a treatment for head lice. From:  Yang, Y. C., Lee, S. H., Clark, J. M., & Ahn, Y. J. (2009). Ovicidal and adulticidal activities of Origanum majorana essential oil constituents against insecticide-susceptible and pyrethroid/malathion-resistant Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 57(6), 2282-2287.

ANTIDIABETIC

• Extracts of cloves, ground Jamaican allspice, and cinnamon showed the strong antidiabetic activity in vitro, likely due to phenolic content. Other potent herbs tested included sage, marjoram, tarragon, and rosemary. From:  Dearlove, R. P., Greenspan, P., Hartle, D. K., Swanson, R. B., & Hargrove, J. L. (2008). Inhibition of protein glycation by extracts of culinary herbs and spices. Journal of medicinal food, 11(2), 275-281.
• Marjoram leaf extracts strongly inhibited rat intestinal α-glucosidase.  From:  Kawabata, J., MIZUHATA, K., Sato, E., NISHIOKA, T., AOYAMA, Y., & KASAI, T. (2003). 6-Hydroxyflavonoids as α-glucosidase inhibitors from marjoram (Origanum majorana) leaves. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 67(2), 445-447.
• Marjoram extracts had a hypoglycemic effect in mice. From: Mohamed, Y. S., & Osman, O. A. (2002). Hypoglycemic effect of Ambrosia maritima and Origanum majorana on alloxan induced diabetic rats. JOURNAL OF DRUG RESEARCH-CAIRO-, 24(1/2), 151-155.
• Alisma plantago aquatica (ze xie/european waterplantain), Catharanthus roseus (madagascar periwinkle), Acorus calamus (sweet calamus), Euphorbia balsamifera (balsam spurge), Jatropha curcas (barbados nut), Origanum majorana (marjoram), Zea mays (corn silk), Capsicum frutescens (chilli) and Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) showed the most antidiabetic activity.  From:  Rau, O., Wurglics, M., Dingermann, T., Abdel-Tawab, M., & Schubert-Zsilavecz, M. (2006). Screening of herbal extracts for activation of the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 61(11), 952-956.
• Rats given Origanum majorana ethanol leaf extracts demonstrated lower blood sugar levels.  From:  Tripathy, B., Satyanarayana, S., Khan, K. A., & Raja, K. (2018). EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIABETIC AND ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ORIGANUM MAJORANA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH, 9(4), 1529-1536.

HEPATOPROTECTIVE / RENALPROTECTIVE

• Oreganom majorana oil exhibited a hepato-renal protection against lead toxicity in mice.  From:  El‐Ashmawy, I. M., El‐Nahas, A. F., & Salama, O. M. (2005). Protective effect of volatile oil, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Origanum majorana on lead acetate toxicity in mice. Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology, 97(4), 238-243.

REDUCED MENSTRUAL PAIN

• A blend of lavender (Lavandula officinalis), clary sage (Salvia sclarea) and marjoram (Origanum majorana) in a carrier cream, massaged on the lower abdomen reduced menstrual pain.  From:  Ou, M. C., Hsu, T. F., Lai, A. C., Lin, Y. T., & Lin, C. C. (2012). Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research, 38(5), 817-822.
• In a study 0f 32 Korean high school girls, a massage with clary sage, marjoram, cinnamon, ginger, and geranium in a base of almond oil helped reduce menstrual pains.  From:  Hur, M. H., Lee, M. S., Seong, K. Y., & Lee, M. K. (2012). Aromatherapy massage on the abdomen for alleviating menstrual pain in high school girls: a preliminary controlled clinical study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2012.

REDUCED PAIN

• In a study of 60 participants with neck pain, a blend of black pepper, lavender, peppermint, and marjoram essential oil in an 3% dilution applied topically helped reduce pain and improve range of motion compared to the placebo.  From:  Ou, M. C., Lee, Y. F., Li, C. C., & Wu, S. K. (2014). The effectiveness of essential oils for patients with neck pain: A randomized controlled study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20(10), 771-779.

ANXIOLYTIC

• Inhalation of an essential oil blended with lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli had a relaxing effect and reduced blood pressure in humans.  From:  Kim, I. H., Kim, C., Seong, K., Hur, M. H., Lim, H. M., & Lee, M. S. (2012). Essential oil inhalation on blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012.
• A study with 104 teeth grinding patients and 500 saliva sample demonstrated Origanum majorana aroma reduced stress level.  From:  Merino, J. J., Parmigiani-Izquierdo, J. M., López-Oliva, M. E., & Cabaña-Muñoz, M. E. (2019). Origanum majorana Essential Oil Inhalation during Neurofeedback Training Reduces Saliva Myeloperoxidase Activity at Session-1 in Bruxistic Patients. Journal of clinical medicine, 8(2), 158.
• An aromatherapy massage with lavender, cypress, and sweet marjoram reduced anxiety and boosted immunity markers in the blood in this small study with 11 participants.  From:  Kuriyama, H., Watanabe, S., Nakaya, T., Shigemori, I., Kita, M., Yoshida, N., … & Imanishi, J. (2005). Immunological and psychological benefits of aromatherapy massage. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(2), 179-184.

ANTI-DEPRESSIVE

• Injection of O. majorana essential oil reduced depression on swim test mice.  From:  Abbasi-Maleki, S., Kadkhoda, Z., & Taghizad-Farid, R. (2019). The antidepressant-like effects of Origanum majorana essential oil on mice through monoaminergic modulation using the forced swimming test. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

INSOMNIA

• Insomnia was reduced in 150 elderly participants with aromatherapy nightly for a month of a blend of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), marjoram (Origantum majorana), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and basil (Ocimum basilicum).  From:  Jezdic, Z., Vulinac, S. O., Racz, A., Kovacevic, I., Sedic, B., & Jadranka, P. (2018). Influence of Aromatherapy on Alleviation of Insomnia Symptoms. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Open Access, 2018(02), 1-5.

CARDIAC HEALTH

• A. dracunculus (tarragon), S. hortensis (summer savory) and O. majorana (marjoram) at a concentration of 200 μg/mL, inhibited platelet adhesion in vitro.  From:  Yazdanparast, R., & Shahriyary, L. (2008). Comparative effects of Artemisia dracunculus, Satureja hortensis and Origanum majorana on inhibition of blood platelet adhesion, aggregation and secretion. Vascular pharmacology, 48(1), 32-37.

HYPOTENSIVE

• Inhalation of an essential oil blended with lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli had a relaxing effect and reduced blood pressure in humans.  From:  Kim, I. H., Kim, C., Seong, K., Hur, M. H., Lim, H. M., & Lee, M. S. (2012). Essential oil inhalation on blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012.

IMMUNITY

• An aromatherapy massage with lavender, cypress, and sweet marjoram reduced anxiety and boosted immunity markers in the blood in this small study with 11 participants.  From:  Kuriyama, H., Watanabe, S., Nakaya, T., Shigemori, I., Kita, M., Yoshida, N., … & Imanishi, J. (2005). Immunological and psychological benefits of aromatherapy massage. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(2), 179-184.

ANTI-ASTHMA

• Two drops of Marjoram oil per day was effective in improving the lung functions of adult patients with asthma.  From:  Mohamed, M. S., Saad, H. H., & El Khalek, M. G. A. (2008). Daily consumption of marjoram oil improve the health status of patients with asthma. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 7(2), 312-316.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Last Updated: 2/19/2020