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| Rosemary Oil |
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves . It is native to the Mediterranean region . It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae , which also includes many other herbs.
The name rosemary derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which is from "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea" because in many locations it needs no other water than the humidity carried by the sea breeze to live.
Taxonomy :
Rosmarinus officinalis is one of only two species in the genus Rosmarinus. The other species is the closely related but less commercially viable Rosmarinus eriocalyx , of the Maghreb of Africa and Iberia . The herbs are a member of the large mint family Lamiaceae. Named by the 18th century naturalist and founding taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus , it has not undergone much taxonomical change since.
Description :
Forms range from upright to trailing; the upright forms can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, rarely 2 m (6 ft 7 in).
The leaves are evergreen , 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long and 2–5 mm broad, green above, and white below with dense short woolly hair. Flowering, very common in a mature and healthy specimen, blooms in summer in the north; but can be everblooming in warm-winter climates and is variable in color, being white, pink, purple, or blue.
Cultivation :
Since it is attractive and tolerates some degree of drought , it is also used in landscaping , especially in areas having a Mediterranean climate . It is considered easy to grow for beginner gardeners, and is pest-resistant.
Rosemary grows on friable loam soil with good drainage in an open sunny position, it will not withstand water logging and some varieties may be susceptible to frost. It grows best in neutral to alkaline conditions pH (pH 7–7.8) with average fertility.
Rosemary is easily pruned into shapes and has been used for topiary . When grown in pots, it is best kept trimmed to stop it getting straggly and unsightly, though when grown in a garden, rosemary can grow quite large and still be attractive. It can be propagated from an existing plant by clipping a shoot 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, stripping a few leaves from the bottom, and planting it directly into soil.
Usage :
Culinary use :
» The fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional Mediterranean cuisine ; they have a bitter, astringent taste and are highly aromatic, which complements a wide variety of foods. A tisane can also be made from them. When burned they give off a distinct mustard smell, as well as a smell similar to that of burning which can be used to flavor foods while barbecuing.
» Rosemary is extremely high in iron , calcium , and Vitamin B6.
» Rosemary extract has been shown to improve the shelf life and heat stability of omega-3 rich oils, which are prone to going rancid.
Potential medicinal use :
» The results of a study suggest that carnosic acid , found in rosemary, may shield the brain from free radicals, lowering the risk of strokes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig 's.
» Rosemary may have some anti-carcinogenic properties. A study where a powdered form of rosemary was given to rats in a measured amount for 2 weeks showed reduction in the binding of a certain carcinogen by 76%, and greatly reduced the formation of mammary tumors.
» Rosemary contains a number of potentially biologically active compounds, including antioxidants such as carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid . Other bioactive compounds include camphor (up to 20% in dry rosemary leaves), caffeic acid , ursolic acid , betulinic acid , rosmaridiphenol , and rosmanol.
Potential side effects :
» When rosemary is harvested appropriately and used within recommended guidelines, side effects are minimal. A few instances of allergic skin reactions to topical preparations containing rosemary have been reported.
» Recent European research has shown that rosemary interferes with the absorption of iron in the diet, which indicates that it should not be used internally by persons with iron deficiency anemia.
Health precautions and toxicology :
Rosemary in culinary or therapeutic doses is generally safe. A toxicity studies of the plant on rats has shown hepatoprotective and antimutagenic activities; however, precaution is necessary for those displaying allergic reaction or prone to epileptic seizures . Rosemary essential oil may have epileptogenic properties, as a handful of case reports over the past century have linked its use with seizures in otherwise healthy adults or children. Rosemary essential oil is potentially toxic if ingested. Large quantities of rosemary leaves can cause adverse reactions, such as coma, spasm, vomiting, and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) that can be fatal. Avoid consuming large quantities of rosemary especially if pregnant or breastfeeding.