Majorana hortensis Mönch - Marjoram

Majorana hortensis is a well-known aromatic plant in Lamiaceae family, synonymous name is Origanum majorana L. Originally, marjoram is a cold-sensitive perennial species, in Hungary it is cultivated as an annual herb (Th). The stems are 25-50 cm tall, branching, the young shoots are greyish. The leaves are oval, haired, the marginals entire and the leafstalks are short. The flowers are small, white or greenish-pink, placed near the globular bracts. The inflorescences are compound, spike-like. The fruits are small, tan brown. Thousand seed weight: 0.22-0.44 g.

Majorana hortensis originates from South-West Asia and North Africa. In Hungary it is known and cultivated since the 16th century, the cultivation area of the plant is the Southern region of Hungary: Kalocsa, Tolna county. Marjoram prefers high temperature, light and wet, nutrient rich soils. The frost tolerance of the plant is very low.

The drug is the crumbled or milled dried flowering shoot of the herb (Majoranae herba). The essential oil distilled from marjoram is also in commercial trade (Majoranae aetheroleum).

Essential oil is the most important active agent of Majorana hortensis, it is accumulated 0.5-1.3 % in the flowering shoots. In the crumbled, purified (the stems are separated) drugs it can reach 2.0-2.5 %. The main compounds of the oil are terpinene, alfa-terpineol, sabinene hydrate. Rosmarinic acid, hydroquinons, flavonoids and bitter substances also accumulate in marjoram.

Majorana hortensis has carminative, analgesic effect, also reduces the distintion of gaster. The essential oil composition is effected by the method of extraction. The distilled marjoram oil has antiseptic, antimicrobal effect. In the folk medicine it is applied for gastric diseases, coughs and externally for curing rheumatism. Most widely the herb is used as a spice.