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oils that help give oregano its flavor can kill certainharmful bacteria.One chemical is also thought to be helpful in reducing inflammation in the body, which is asso- ciated with a number of diseases. More recently, scientists have studiedwhat role oregano can play in fighting cancer.

Oil of oregano: nature’s antibiotic

The key part of oregano in the battle against cancer may be a compound called carvacrol. Supriya Bavadekar, a professor at Long Island University, showed that carvacrol triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. A research team in the United Arab Emirates found that carvacrol has the same effect on some breast cancer cells.The oregano compound also seems to be able to stop the spread of a kind of breast cancer once it has already appeared in a woman’s body. Apart from possibly preventing the spread of some cancers, carvacrol also seems to be a potent weapon in fighting a germ called notovirus. Found in food, the virus can cause vomiting. Together with other substances that kill microorganisms, the oregano oil can kill the notovirus. Carvacrol could someday be used in cleaners to reduce the spread of disease in hospitals and other public places. Making Medicine Easier to Take Some of the world’s volcanic hot springs are home to a micro- organism called Sulfolobus islandicus ( S. islandicus ). It thrives in temperatures above 160°F (71°C) and in acidic conditions.