What Is Rosemary? Other Names: Alecrim, Compass Plant, Rosmarinus officinalis

What is Rosemary?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family, widely recognized for its aromatic properties and diverse applications in culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. This article explores the various aspects of rosemary, including its biological effects, therapeutic potential, and applications in different fields. Other names include: Alecrim, Compass Plant, Compass Weed, Encensier, Herbe Aux Couronnes, Old Man, Polar Plant, Romarin, Romarin Des Troubadours, Romero, Rose de Marie, Rose Des Marins, Rosée De Mer, Rosemarine, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rusmari, Rusmary.

Biological Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Rosemary

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

Rosemary is known for its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Studies have demonstrated that rosemary leaf extracts exhibit significant antimicrobial effects against various bacterial strains and fungi, including Candida albicans6 10. The antioxidant properties of rosemary are attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds, which help in reducing oxidative stress and protecting cellular structures from damage6.

Cognitive and Mental Health Benefits

Several studies have investigated the impact of rosemary on cognitive function and mental health. For instance, the acute ingestion of rosemary water has been shown to enhance cognitive performance and mood in healthy adults, potentially through cholinergic mechanisms and improved cerebrovascular response4. Additionally, continuous intake of rosemary extracts has been associated with improved mood states, reduced fatigue, and enhanced cognitive function in working-age men7. Rosemary has also been found to reduce anxiety and depression-like behaviors in animal models, suggesting its potential as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent2.

Effects on Memory and Sleep Quality

Rosemary has been traditionally used to boost memory and improve sleep quality. Clinical trials have shown that oral administration of rosemary can enhance prospective and retrospective memory performance, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality in university students3. In elderly populations, low doses of dried rosemary leaf powder have been found to improve the speed of memory, indicating its potential role in mitigating cognitive decline associated with aging8.

Protective Effects Against Toxins and Environmental Stressors

Rosemary has been studied for its protective effects against various toxins and environmental stressors. For example, diets supplemented with rosemary have been shown to ameliorate the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in Nile Tilapia, improving growth performance, immunity, and liver histopathology1. Similarly, rosemary extract has been found to mitigate testicular damage and hormonal imbalances induced by electromagnetic fields in rats, highlighting its potential in protecting against environmental pollutants6.

Reproductive Health and Fertility

Research has also explored the effects of rosemary on reproductive health. Co-administration of rosemary with etoposide, a chemotherapeutic agent, has been shown to improve sperm quality, reduce DNA fragmentation, and mitigate testicular injury in male rats5. These findings suggest that rosemary may have beneficial effects on fertility and reproductive health.

Applications in Animal Nutrition

Rosemary is used as a phytogenic feed additive in animal nutrition to enhance feed utilization, manipulate rumen fermentation, and improve milk production. Studies on lactating Damascus goats have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with rosemary can increase milk yield and improve the fatty acid profile of milk without affecting nutrient intake9.

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Adverse Effects of Rosemary

Cognitive Impairment at High Doses

High doses of rosemary (6,000 mg) can significantly impair cognitive performance, particularly affecting the speed of memory and other cognitive functions2.

Liver Enzyme Alterations

Rosemary extract can cause significant changes in liver enzyme levels, such as elevated serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), indicating potential liver stress or damage4 7 8 9.

Cholinesterase Inhibition

Regular consumption of rosemary tea can inhibit cholinesterase activity in the brain and liver, which may have implications for neurological and liver function1.

Potential for Hepatotoxicity

While rosemary has hepatoprotective effects against certain toxins, its administration in the context of other toxic exposures (e.g., ethanol, acetaminophen) shows that it can still lead to significant liver enzyme alterations and histopathological changes, indicating potential hepatotoxicity4 9.

Impact on Kidney Function

Rosemary extract can affect kidney function, as indicated by changes in serum creatinine and other renal markers, particularly in the context of toxic exposures7 9.

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How has Rosemary Improved Patient Outcomes?

Wound Healing

Rosemary ointment significantly improved the healing of pressure ulcers in ICU patients compared to routine care, showing a decrease in Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing scores and preventing the progression of grade I pressure ulcers1.

Mental Health

Aromatherapy with rosemary essential oil reduced preoperative anxiety, stress, and depression in surgical patients, improving their physiological parameters3.

Continuous intake of rosemary extracts improved mood states, reduced fatigue, and enhanced cognitive function in working-age men with poor mental health5.

Pain Management

Topical application of rosemary was effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain in hemodialysis patients, showing significant pain relief similar to menthol application4.

Metabolic Health

While rosemary leaf powder showed improvements in liver enzymes, glycemic status, and lipid profile in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, these changes were not significantly different from those achieved by diet and physical activity alone2.

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Rosemary Mechanisms of Action

Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects

Regular consumption of rosemary tea significantly reduces anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice. This effect is linked to the inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) activity in the brain and liver, suggesting that rosemary’s phytochemicals may act similarly to known ChE inhibitors1.

Antifungal Activity

Rosemary essential oil shows promising antifungal properties, particularly against itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis, by delaying fungal spread and protecting systemic organs like the liver and spleen2.

The ethanol extract of rosemary leaves exhibits inhibitory effects on Candida albicans, with rosmarinic acid identified as a key component responsible for this activity6.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties

Rosemary leaf extracts demonstrate significant antimicrobial activity against various bacterial strains and antioxidant properties that protect against testicular damage caused by electromagnetic fields3.

The essential oil of rosemary has antibacterial activity against pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella indiana, and Listeria innocua, although it is less effective than oregano oil9.

Protective Effects Against Toxins

Rosemary extract mitigates the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in Nile Tilapia, improving growth performance, liver function, and antioxidant activity4.

In rats, rosemary extract reduces the physiological disturbances induced by thioacetamide toxicity, including improvements in serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant status7.

Neuroprotective and Cognitive Benefits

Rosemary extract protects against oxidative stress-mediated neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), improving neurochemical and behavioral outcomes8.

Reproductive Health

Co-administration of rosemary with etoposide in rats improves sperm count, motility, and viability, and reduces testicular injury and DNA damage, indicating a protective effect on reproductive health5.

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Common Complaints Associated with Rosemary Use

Positive Effects on Sleepiness and Alertness

Inhalation of rosemary essential oil significantly decreased sleepiness and increased alertness in shift-working nurses1.

Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects

Regular consumption of rosemary tea resulted in anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and antidepressant-like behavior in adult male mice2.

Cholinesterase Inhibition

Rosemary tea consumption significantly decreased cholinesterase activity in the brain and liver of mice, which could be linked to its anxiolytic and antidepressant effects2.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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