The leaves of this hardy Mediterranean plant are used to flavor a variety of dishes and beverages, and are added to some cosmetics. In its long and colorful history, rosemary has been used, among other things, as a symbol of fidelity and a guard against evil spirits and bad dreams. It has also gained an important place in traditional medicine, including its use as an antiseptic and as a treatment for respiratory problems, stomach cramps and arthritic pain. Rosemary is also believed to enhance the memory. More recently, it has become clear that rosemary is a valuable preventive agent against several chronic diseases and is one of several spices that contribute to the health-promoting effects of the “Mediterranean” diet.

Important Phytochemicals

Antioxidants: Apigenin, borneol, caffeic acid, carvacrol, chlorogenic acid, hesperidin, myrcene, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, salicylates, ursolic acid

Others: Borneol, bornyl acetate, carnosol, cineole, camphor, geraniol, limonene, luteolin, pinenes, safrole, terpinenes

Medicinal Properties

Cancer
Rosemary contains significant quantities of several antioxidants which exhibit potent anti-tumorigenic properties. These include apigenin, salicylates, caffeic acid and ursolic acid.

Cardiovascular Disease and Blood Lipids
Like oregano, rosemary has cardioprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and two of its compounds, carvacrol and rosmarinic acid, directly prevent the formation of atheromatous plaques in the arteries. Oleanolic and ursolic acid reduce the risk of atherogenesis even further by lowering abnormal blood lipid levels, while caffeic acid prevents platelet aggregation.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Rosmarinic acid has shown promising preventive and, in some cases, therapeutic effects against Alzheimer’s disease. Although its mechanisms are not fully understood, like the phytochemicals in garlic and turmeric, rosmarinic acid prevents the deposition of amyloid plaque in the brain and may also contribute to its breakdown.

Toxins
Rosemary has specifically been shown to protect the liver from damage by environmental toxins. More broadly, potent antioxidants present in rosemary, such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid, are effective scavengers of free-radical toxins and assist in the prevention of inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Allergies
The traditional use of rosemary as a treatment for respiratory problems has now been validated by clinical studies investigating its anti-allergenic properties. These have demonstrated that rosemary is an effective therapy for hay fever and asthma-causing allergies, and these anti-allergenic properties may well extend to other types of allergies.