Rosemary: An Ancient Herb of Medicinal Value!

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), an aromatic herb of Lamiaceae family,  is a native of southern Europe and grows wild on dry rocky hills in the Mediterranean region. It is known by its various names such as Compass weed, Our lady's rose, Polar plant, Romero, Rosemarine, Rosemary, Rusmari and Sea dew. 

Rosmarinus officinalis

Since time immemorial, it has been used traditionally in different Nation's folk medicines for curing various health disorders. This herb is considered abortifacient, carminative, diuretic, aperient, emmenagogue, stimulant and stomachic. Experimental studies support that Rosemary is an excellent antioxidant, having antimicrobial, anti-mutagenic and radioprotective properties. This ancient herb is said to be beneficial in strengthening the memory. The plant is also a well-known mild sedative and painkiller. It is considered to be a valuable circulatory and nervine stimulant. Rosemary has a therapeutic potential in flatulent dyspepsia, headache and depression associated with debility.

Rosemary has also been used for treating hypertension, asthma, peptic ulcer, prostate disorders, inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, dyspepsia, and cataract. Rosemary tea is effective against colic and colds. It also stimulates appetite and aids digestion. Rosemary oil acts as a stimulant to the hair follicles and thus is useful in treating premature baldness. Rosemary oil may be used to ease muscular pain, sciatica and neuralgia. Rosemary footbaths ease aching feet, by stimulating the blood circulation. An emulsion prepared from its oil is used as a gargle for treating sore throat. 

Rosemary owes its therapeutic and medicinal potential to the active ingredients found in the plant. Rosemary contains essential oils such as borneol, camphor, cineole, linalol and verbenol. It is also rich in tannins, rosmarinic acid, rosmaricine, heterosides, resins, triterpene (ursolic acid, oleanic acid), flavonoids (apigenin, diosmin, luteolin), carnosol and carnosic acid.  Of these, carnosic acid, ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid have been reported to have anti-carcinogenic, antiviral and inhibitory activities.

References

• Selmi G. Therapeutic use of Rosemary through the centuries. Policlinico (Prat) 1967; 74: 439-441.
• Zimmermann V. Rosemary as a medicinal plant and wonder-drug. A report on the medieval drug monographs. Sudhoffs Arch.1980; 64: 351-370. 
• Sancheti G and Goyal PK. Modulatory influence of Rosemarinus officinalis on DMBA-induced skin tumorigenesis in mice. Asian Pacific J. Cancer Prev. 2006; 7: 331-335.
• Sancheti G and Goyal PK. Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis in modulating the 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin tumorigenesis in mice. Phytotherapy Research 2006; 20: 981-986.
• Sancheti G and Goyal PK. Prevention of radiation induced hematological alterations by medicinal plant Rosmarinus officinalis, in Mice. African Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2007; 4: 165-172.
• Sancheti G and Goyal PK. Role of Rosemary leaf extract against various doses of gamma radiation. Tree for Life Journal 2007, Vol 2:2. http://www.tfljournal.org/article.php/2007042416194363.