Is Oregano Good for Killing Bacteria?

Significance

• According to a Georgetown University study, oil of oregano prevents the growth of staphylococcus aureus in the lab almost as well as penicillin and streptomycin, two antibiotics used frequently to treat a variety of bacterial illnesses. The study revealed that chemicals in oil of oregano called carvacrol and thymol are responsible for its antibacterial properties.

Potential

• A study done by the Department of Public Health and Food Safety, or DPHFS, found that oregano may also have the potential to increase food safety by killing Escherichia coli O157:H7, a bacteria that contaminates food and causes diarrhea and GI issues. The DPHFS study also showed that oil of oregano was effective in killing the bacteria at low doses and at a variety of temperatures, making it a potentially safer and very flexible antibacterial substance.

Benefits

• Another study, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, showed that oregano in essential oil form was effective in killing bacteria that cause respiratory infections, including Haemophilus influenzae, a virus that causes ear infections, pneumonia and bacterial meningitis.