Carvacrol and thymol (the primary active phenols, comprising 60-80% of oregano essential oil) disrupt microbial cell membranes by intercalating into the lipid bilayer, increasing permeability and causing leakage of cellular contents. This mechanism is: (1) effective against bacteria, fungi, and protozoa simultaneously; (2) difficult for organisms to develop resistance against (membrane disruption vs enzyme inhibition); (3) NON-SELECTIVE, it damages beneficial gut bacteria equally. Additional mechanisms include inhibition of bacterial efflux pumps (potentially resensitizing antibiotic-resistant organisms) and NF-κB inhibition (anti-inflammatory).
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.