Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as a functional ingredient: recent scientific evidence

- Scientific evidence about beneficial health effects of rosemary extracts is described.
- Main bioactivities associated to rosemary extracts and its components are discussed.
- Carnosic acid and carnosol are the main studied compounds as responsible of bioactivities.
- More studies are necessary to corroborate the true potential activity in humans.

Nowadays, research on bioactive substances of plant has earned a growing interest in industries such as pharmaceutical and food processing, due their beneficial health effects. Rosemary is one of the most studied Mediterranean herbs, thanks to its active compounds, which belong mainly to the class of secondary metabolites. Several rosemary components, mainly, carnosic acid and carnosol, have demonstrated different biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, as well as beneficial effects against neurological and metabolic disorders. In this regard, this review summarizes and discusses recent remarkable advances on the use of rosemary as a potential functional ingredient in order to provide beneficial health benefits against various human chronic diseases. Besides, the recent scientific evidence related to its safety and bioavailability has been critically discussed.