Rosemary
Rosemary is a substance from the Mint family called Labiatae. The preferred genus is Rosemarinus, and the preferred species, R. officinalis. Rosemary extract is a generic term describing a number of different chemical compositions that may contain several different active components. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a shrub-like plant of the Lamiaceae family, which reaches up to a metre in height with narrow leaves with a whitish underside. Its flowers are liliaceous or white-coloured. Worldwide demand for natural antioxidants has been rising due to safety concerns about synthetic food and feed additives and the public perception that natural food and feed supplements provide certain health benefits. The most important natural antioxidants being exploited commercially today are tocopherols. Tocopherols have a potent ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in vivo by trapping peroxy-radicals. Various herbal extracts for use as natural antioxidants are being explored. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a shrub-like plant of the Lamiaceae family, which reaches up to a metre in height with narrow leaves with a whitish underside. Its flowers are liliaceous or white-coloured. Rosemary is a rich source of anti-aging constituents which inactivate free radicals. Thus, rosemary provides antioxidant benefits. Rosemary further includes phytonutrients which optimize memory. Rosemary further contains constituents which, like estrogen, inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. It protects the cell membranes that help to neutralise the action of free radicals generated by numerous uncontrolled oxidation reactions that take place in the tissues. It inhibits the formation of the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) directly implicated in alopecia. Thus, the rosemary supercritical extract may play a role in supplementing natural estrogen's bone maintenance capability. The rosemary supercritical extract is preferably obtained from the leaves and essential oil of the plant. Among the common components that are found in rosemary extract are carnosol, carnosic acid, methoxy carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, rosmanol and rosmaridiphenol, in different proportions depending on the individual extract. Rosemary has been shown to be endowed with the potent antioxidant rosmarinic acid, in addition to about a dozen other free radical scavengers.Rosemary is used to treat tension of nerves or stomach, dysplesia, colic, headache, depression, muscular pain, sciatica, neuralgia, premature baldness, menstrual problems, liver congestion and poor circulation. The rosemary extract contains numerous anti-aging constituents and significant 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. Rosemary is also used as a tonic for blood circulation and as a nerve tonic. Essential oils are volatile oils which are the aroma and flavor components of organic material. They are used in a variety of products such as incense, aromatherapy oils, perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and foods. Studies have shown that as well as being a stimulant to the nervous system, rosemary essential oil is primarily antiseptic and antibacterial. The warming and stimulating effects of rosemary help clear phlegm from the head and chest. In addition, a few drops of the essential oil in the bath restores energy levels after a period of prolonged stress.
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