From ancient Greek scholars using
it to improve recall while taking exams, to Ophelia pleading Hamlet “There’s rosemary,
that’s for remembrance, pray your love, remember”, rosemary has long been
considered a memory stimulant. This herb is not only part of traditional
medicine books and exquisite recipes, it has also been widely studied by
scientist in the last 20 years, and it seems that the active compounds found in
this plant are amazing for skin disorders, inflammatory diseases and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Rosmarinic acid is one of the major
components found in rosemary and it is also present in other plants such as
spearmint and lemon balm. The following pharmacological effects of this phytochemical
have been confirmed in in vitro, animal and clinical studies.
Powerful antioxidant
In vitro studies performed on
cultured keratinocytes – the predominant cell type of the outer layer of the
skin – found that rosmarinic acid effectively protects cells from oxidative
stress induced by ultraviolet radiation. Rosemary extracts being potent
antioxidants are used to improve the shelf life of perishable foods, and they destroy heterocyclic amines, which are carcinogenic compounds than can form when meat is cooked.
Antitumoral activity
Several animal studies have
proven the efficacy of rosmarinic acid in preventing cancer. Eight week
administration of rosmarinic acid was shown to prevent colon cancer in mice.
Another study found that rosmarinic acid completely prevented skin cancer in
mice treated with a carcinogenic substance. The effects of rosemary extract are
so promising that they are being evaluated as a complementary agent in
anticancer therapy.
Antiinflammatory effect
Clinical studies have shown
rosmarinic acid is effective in controlling atopic dermatitis and allergic
rhinoconjuntivitis.
Relief of osteoarthritis pain
A clinical study conducted by
the University of Guelp, Canada evaluated the effects of a high rosmarinic acid
spearmint tea on relieving osteoarthritis pain, stiffness and joint disability.
Participants who drank two cups a day for 16 weeks had significant reduction of
these symptoms leading researchers to recommend it as a potential complementary
therapy to reduce pain in ostheoarthritis.
How to benefit from rosmarinic acid
Make sure to frequently include rosemary to your cooking. There are plenty of recipes for sauces, soups and meat using this tasty herb. If you don't like the flavor of rosemary, you can put a little bit of rosemary extract on the surface. You can also drink two cups of rosemary/spearmint tea a day, which will give you 20 mg of rosmarinic acid - enough to benefit from its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.
