Study on the possible oestrogenic activity of origanum majorana L.[bardaqoush] oil on female albino rats

ABSTRACT

The oestrogenic activity of Origanum majorana [0. majorana] oil was studied biologically by uterine weight and vaginal epithelium cornification method. A Significant increase in vaginal cornification and uterine weight was found in immature and overiectomized rats given 0. majorana oil for five days orally. The immature and overiectomized rats after administration of Oestradiol in a dose 0.1 g /0.1 ml per day for 5 days also induce a significant increase in uterine weight and significant increase in vaginal cornification when compared by control groups. These results indicated that both doses of 0. majorana oil [1 and 2 ml/ rat/day] have oestrogen like activity but less in activity from that of Oestradiol group. Concerning the effect of both 0. majorana oil and Oestradiol on body weight it was found that there were non significant changes from the initial body weight. These finding suggested that the 0. majorana oil exerts an oestrogen like activity