Alecrim (rosmarinus officinalis): principais características

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is widely used in folk medicine, rosemary has a bittersweet taste, being used in breads, preparations containing meat and to adorn salads. The antioxidant properties of rosemary extract have received considerable attention in recent years, being recognized since ancient times. More recently, attempts have been made to determine the chemical structure of the plant's active constituents, with rosmanol and the diterpenes rosmaridiphenol and rosmariquinone having already been identified. The research is characterized as a quantitative, descriptive, retrospective study, carried out through a literature review of the literature, consisting of available scientific articles and online databases. The study was carried out through a bibliographic review, considering the rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) and, seeking to present the main evidences present in the literature about its therapeutic potential. In recent times, the use of medicinal plants has been very significant. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the world population uses folk medicine to alleviate or cure diseases. The biological activities of this plant have been related to its phenolic compounds and its volatile constituents, such as carnasol, carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid present in non-volatile extracts, and α-pinene, bornyl acetate, camphor and 1.8 -cineol present in the essential oil of this plant. Smaller constituents can also influence their biological activity due to the possibility of a synergistic effect between their constituents.