Abstract
Medicinal and aromatic plants represent a stable part of the natural biodiversity legacy of many countries in the world. The present review focuses on oregano (Origanum vulgare L.; family Lamiaceae), an endemic herb in Greece that constitutes one of the best known aromatic and medicinal plants originating in the Mediterranean region. In particular, oregano is an evergreen, rich in natural compounds perennial plant that received increased attention in the last years for a wide range of uses. Oregano dry leaves and inflorescences in mixture are used as human and animal food that is extremely rich in antioxidative properties. Additionally, its essential oil is rich in carvacrol, thymol, c-terpinene and p-cymene, and is used for a number of medicinal purposes, e.g. for inhibiting microbial and fungal toxin production as well as for the well-known anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiarthritic, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Due to its perfect quality and high essential oil concentration, Greek oregano (O. vulgare ssp. hirtum) is regarded among the best in the world gaining in popularity in the global markets for food industry applications. Consequently, oregano might be considered as an important low-input, environmental friendly commodity for extensive cultivation in Greece. The present review summarizes on the origin, the morphology, the ecology and the utilization of this plant. Despite the extensive literature available on the use of oregano biomass and essential oil, only few reports exist concerning the cultivation of this plant. Therefore, the present review is additionally focused on the cultivation practices and the importance of cultivation and utilization of Origanum vulgare L. in Greece and generally in the Mediterranean region in the near future, as it constitutes a plant species with high medical, economic and environmental value.
 
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 In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue.
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Highlights
The Mediterranean Basin is considered as a ‘Global biodiversity hotspot’ and the largest of the world’s five Mediterranean type climatic regions (Beltran et al, 2014; Solomou et al, 2017)
The geographical position of Greece combined with its richness in different landscapes and edapho-climatic environments and their multiple interactions with the biotic factors have designated it as a region of great importance regarding biodiversity and plant endemism, favouring the adaptation of aromatic and medicinal plant species that offer therapeutic, economic and environmental benefits (e.g. Origanum sp., Sideritis sp., Salvia sp., Crocus sp., Hypericum perforatum, etc.) (Katsiotis and Chatzopoulou, 2010; Solomou et al, 2016)
Due to its perfect quality and high essential oil concentration, Greek oregano is regarded among the best in the world gaining in popularity in the European markets for food industry applications (Goliaris and Skroumpis, 1992)
Summary
The Mediterranean Basin is considered as a ‘Global biodiversity hotspot’ and the largest of the world’s five Mediterranean type climatic regions (Beltran et al, 2014; Solomou et al, 2017). The geographical position of Greece combined with its richness in different landscapes and edapho-climatic environments and their multiple interactions with the biotic factors have designated it as a region of great importance regarding biodiversity and plant endemism, favouring the adaptation of aromatic and medicinal plant species that offer therapeutic, economic and environmental benefits (e.g. Origanum sp., Sideritis sp., Salvia sp., Crocus sp., Hypericum perforatum, etc.) (Katsiotis and Chatzopoulou, 2010; Solomou et al, 2016). Oregano constitutes one of the most cultivated aromatic plants worldwide. The essential oil concentration ranges from 1.1 to 8.2% that is about 10 times greater compared to other oregano species (Kokkini and Vokou, 1989; Baser et al, 1993). Greek oregano has been detected in the Balkan Peninsula, e.g. in Turkey, Cyprus, Italy (Sicily) (Siedemann, 2004), at elevations between 0 and 1500 m ASL (Kokkini et al, 2004)
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