Rosemary is a strong smelling herb and essential oil made from the thin leaves of a small evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks regarded it as a sacred plant and it has come to be associated with love, death, and remembrance. "There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance: pray, love, remember," Ophelia says in Hamlet. rosemary was also a remedy for conditions ranging from stomach ache to nervous exhaustion. It remains a popular herb today for these and a variety of other medical conditions, as well as a useful culinary spice and garden ornamental.

Rosemary has long been a favorite cooking herb and meat preservative. Traditional healers from Greece and elsewhere also recognized rosemary as an effective remedy for problems of the liver, circulation, and digestion. Perhaps rosemary's most popular use, however, has been to restore a weakened nervous system and revive those who are tired either mentally or physically. It has been used as an herb, as an ingredient in a stimulating tonic wine, and as a scent to treat depression and stress-related disorders. Women have long regarded rosemary as a potential menstrual balancer. Herbalists have been known to recommend it to alleviate headaches, rheumatism, and arthritis. Topical applications of rosemary have been used to promote the healing of sprains, bruises, and wounds, and relieve the pain of arthritis. Rosemary is said to prevent baldness and was often included in hair tonics.

Herbalists still value rosemary for many of its traditional uses, some of which have been confirmed by recent studies. For example, studies have suggested that inhaling the dispersed essential oil tends to increase physical activity and enhance blood flow to the brain. People with mild depression, nervous exhaustion, anorexia, high stress, and fatigue may benefit from taking rosemary. Rosemary is used to stimulate digestion and appetite. It is a valuable remedy to calm the stomach and alleviate digestive disorders such as heartburn and flatulence. Topically, it helps relieve muscle and nerve pain. In addition rosemary may help prevent or treat:

Recent findings

Compounds found in rosemary include tannins, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives such as rosmarinic acid, diterpenes such as carnosol or carnosic acid, and the essential oil. All of these may have potential therapeutic effects. Rosmarinic acid may relieve pain and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The diterpenes are thought to be potent antioxidants and carnosol has been shown to help prevent tumors in mice. The oil or its constituents, including cineol, borneol, and camphor, can counter bacteria and fungi and relax smooth muscles of the lungs.

 

Rosemary leaf products are sold as liquid extracts and teas. Rosemary is also the source of an essential oil. It is a common component of:

For more information on the features and benefits of the various dosage forms of herbal products (dried herb, extracts, teas, etc.), click here.

Herbal extracts of rosemary are relatively safe. Some people may experience mild upset stomach; large doses can cause vomiting and irritate the kidneys. The essential oil is more potent and potentially toxic. The oil can irritate the skin when applied topically and should not be ingested orally. Large doses of rosemary have traditionally been thought to promote abortion. A recent animal study by Brazilian researchers, however, determined that rosemary extracts may slightly decrease the likelihood of conception but don't interfere with normal development of the fetus after implantation. Nevertheless, pregnant women (and women attempting to conceive) may wish to avoid regular use of rosemary.

 

References

Aqel, M.B., "Relaxant effect of the volatile oil of Rosmarinus officinalis on tracheal smooth muscle," J Ethnopharmacol (1991), 33(1-2):57-62

Haraguchi, H., et al., "Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and superoxide generation by diterpenoids from Rosmarinus officinalis," Planta Med (1995), 61(4):333-36

Kovar, K.A., et al., "Blood levels of 1,8-cineole and locomotor activity of mice after inalation and oral administration of rosemary oil," Planta Medica (1987), 53(4):315-18

Larrondo, J.V., et al., "Antimicrobial activity of essences from labiates," Microbios (1995), 82(332):171-72

Lemonica, I.P., et al., "Study of the embryotoxic effects of an extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)," Braz J Med Biol Res (1996), 29(2):223-27

Nasel, C., et al., "Functional imaging of effects of fragrances on the human brain after prolonged inhalation," Chemical Senses (1994), 19(4):359-64

Offord, E.A., et al., "Rosemary components inhibit benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxicity in human bronchial cells," Carcinogenesis (1995), 16(9):2057-62

Zhu, B.T., et al., "Dietary administration of an extract from rosemary leaves enhances the liver microsomal metabolism of endogenous estrogens and decreases their uterotropic action in CD-1 mice," Carcinogenesis (1998), 19(10):1821-27

Abstracts
Title: Rosemary components inhibit benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxicity in human bronchial cells
Author: Offord EA; Mace K; Ruffieux C; Malnoe A; Pfeifer AM
Address: Nestle Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland
Source: Carcinogenesis, 16(9):2057-62 1995 Sep ,br> Abstract: The commonly used spice and flavouring agent, rosemary, derived from the leaves of the plant Rosmarinus officinalis L., displays antioxidant properties in foods and in biological systems. Moreover, in animal models rosemary components were found to inhibit the initiation and tumour promotion phases of carcinogenesis. In this work, we studied the mechanisms by which rosemary components block initiation of carcinogenesis by the procarcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Whole rosemary extract (6 micrograms/ml) or an equivalent concentration of its most potent antioxidant constituents, carnosol or carnosic acid, inhibited DNA adduct formation by 80% after 6 h co-incubation with 1.5 muM B[a]P. Under similar conditions, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 mRNA expression was 50% lower in the presence of rosemary components, and CYP1A1 activity was inhibited 70-90%. The observed reduction of DNA adduct formation by rosemary components may mostly result from the inhibition of the activation of benzo[a]pyrene to its ultimate metabolites. Carnosol also affected expression of the phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase which is known to detoxify the proximate carcinogenic metabolite of B[a]P. Treatment of BEAS-2B cells with carnosol (1 microgram/ml) for 24 h resulted in a 3- to 4-fold induction of GST pi mRNA. Moreover, expression of a second important phase II enzyme, NAD(P)H: quinone reductase, was induced by carnosol in parallel with GST pi. Therefore, rosemary components have the potential to decrease activation and increase detoxification of an important human carcinogen, identifying them as promising candidates for chemopreventive programs.
Language: Eng
Unique Identifier: 96018698
MESH Headings: Anticarcinogenic Agents *TU; Benzo(a)pyrene *AI/*TO BENZOPYRENE A; Bronchi *DE/EN/ME; Bronchial Neoplasms CI/PC; Carcinogens *TO; Cells, Cultured; Cytochrome P-450 AI/GE CYTOCHROME P 450; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; DNA Adducts *BI/DE; Enzyme Induction; Enzyme Inhibitors TU; Glutathione Transferase BI; Herbs CH; Human; Isoenzymes AI/GE; Mutagens *TO; Plant Extracts *TU; RNA, Messenger GE/ME
Publication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE
ISSN: 0143-3334
Country of Publication: ENGLAND