Aromatic and Medicinal Plants: Sweet Marjoram

Classification

• Scientific name: Majorana hortensis or Origanum majorana L.
• Common name: Sweet marjoram
• Family: Lamiaceae

Origin and Distribution

• Originates from Asia Minor

Plant Description (Morphology)

• Herbaceous perennial plant
• Leaves: oval shaped, small, light green
• Stem: not specified
• Flower: small white to purple flowers, arranged in whorls on the ends of branches

Cultivation

• Soil: prefers neutral soil
• Temperature: requires a fairly hot climate
• Irrigation: requires regular irrigation
• Propagation: can be grown from seed or stem cutting
• Planting density/spacing: 15-30 cm in the row, 30-50 cm width
• Planting date: seeds can be prepared in the greenhouse in February or Autumn, seedlings can be transplanted to the field in March to Mid-April

Crop Schedule

• Field preparation: January
• Planting, cultivation, and harvesting: February to April
• Weed, disease, and pest management: March to June
• Irrigation: April to August
• Harvest: May to July

Used Parts

• The plant can be harvested when needed, before or at blooming stage for leaves or essential oil production
• Harvesting: 2-4 cuts/year, cuttings can be made at 10-15 cm above the ground

Active Constituents

• Monoterpenoids: a-pinene, beta-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-terpinene, y-terpinene, paracymene, terpinolene
• Sesquiterpenoids: beta-caryophyllene, a-humulene
• Monoterpenols: linalool, terpine-1-ol-4, terpine-1-ol-3, a-terpineol, cisthuyanol-4, trans-thuyanol-4
• Terpenic esters: linalyl-acetate, terpenyl-acetate, geranyl-acetate
• Phenol-methyl-ethers: trans-anethol

Uses

• Antifungal activity
• Antibacterial activity
• Antioxidant activity
• Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic activity
• Immunostimulant, antimutagenic, and anticancer activity
• Insecticidal, nematicidal, and molluscicidal activity
• Used in many foods