Pharmacological activities and medicinal properties of endemic Moroccan medicinal plant Origanum compactum (Benth) and their main compounds

Abstract

The man was always depending on the nature to live and survive. He had used products from different sources to fight against illnesses. Among these sources, we found aromatic and medicinal plants which have been used since ancient times for centuries as remedies for human diseases because of their vast biosynthetic capacity[1]. They are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids with known therapeutic properties[2]. Actually, there are a growing number of studies for the biological effects of active compounds produced by medicinal plants during secondary metabolism. The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants is depending on geographical location, climate and environmental conditions in which a medicinal plant is growing[3,4]. The change of these parameters can totally induce gene expression and subsequently change metabolites compounds. Morocco, by its Mediterranean climate, is rich in vegetation including a spectrum of medicinal and aromatic plants. Among the most medicinal plant mostly found in Moroccan, we find oregano [Origanum compactum Benth. (O. compactum)]. Oregano is an endemic Moroccan medicinal plant which has widely been used by Moroccan population for its culinary and medicinal properties since antiquity[5,6]. Today, several studies have been conducted through Morocco areas for screening of pharmacological properties of O. compactum essential oils and extracts[7-12]. Therefore, this review presents an overview of the results found about phytochemical and pharmacological applications of O. compactum and its main compounds.