benefits of rosemary

The most important constituents of rosemary are caffeic acid and its derivatives such as rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid has a number of interesting biological activities, for example, it has antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Rosemary is very rich in B vitamins such pyridoxine and folic acid which is vital in synthesis and repair of DNA and RNA and also to prevent major birth defects of the baby's brain or spine in pregnant women.

Rosemary has been reported to have a major role in cancer risk reduction. An Australian study found that rosemary extract, containing carnosol, carnosic acid, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid, could suppress the development of tumors in several organs including the colon, breast, liver, stomach, as well as melanoma and leukemia cells. The anticancer properties were found to arise through the molecular changes in the multiple-stage process of cancer development.

A number of studies found rosemary oil to have antimicrobial properties. Rosemary oil could inhibit food borne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, yeast (Candida albicans), and fungus (Aspergillus niger).

Rosemary produced a significant enhancement of performance for overall quality of memory and secondary memory factors, but also produced an impairment of speed of memory in healthy adults. Rosemary could also improve mood and alertness. Another study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food investigating the effects of dried rosemary leaf powder on cognitive performance in older adults found that a 750mg-dose of rosemary had a statistically significant beneficial effect on memory, whereas the 6000mg-dose had a significant impairing effect on cognitive function.

The rosmarinic acid in rosemary relaxes the muscles in trachea and intestine, stimulates bile production, and protects the liver. In folk medicine it is used as an antispasmodic in renal colic. Researchers from the Al-Fateh University of Medical Sciences, Libya, suggest that rosmarinic acid also has the therapeutic potential in treatment or prevention of peptic ulcer and liver toxicity.

Rosemary oil is to promote hair growth, though there is not much scientific evidence to prove this. However, a recent study on lab mouse showed that topical administration of rosemary leaf extract (RO-ext, 2mg/day/mouse) improved hair re-growth in mice that experienced hair re-growth interruption induced by testosterone treatment, suggesting an anti-androgenic activity mechanism of rosemary extract. The study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research concluded that rosemary extract is a promising crude drug for hair growth.

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, it now grows throughout much of the temperate regions in Europe and America. Rosemary has been a prized seasoning and natural medicine for millennia. Part of rosemary's popularity came from the widespread belief that rosemary stimulated and strengthened the memory, a quality for which it is still traditionally used. In ancient Greece, students would place rosemary sprigs in their hair when studying for exams, and mourners would also throw the fragrant herb into the grave of the deceased as a symbol of remembrance. In olde England, rosemary's ability to fortify the memory transformed it into a symbol of fidelity, and it played an important role in the costumes, decorations and gifts used at weddings.

Quickly rinse rosemary under cool running water and pat dry. Most recipes call for rosemary leaves, which can be easily removed from the stem. Alternatively, you can add the whole sprig to season soups, stews and meat dishes, then simply remove it before serving.

Rosemary is not a commonly allergenic food and is not known to contain measurable amounts of oxalates or purines.Rosemary grows on a small evergreen shrub belonging to the Labiatae family that is related to mint. Its leaves look like flat pine-tree needles, deep green in color on top while silver-white on their underside.