Satureja is a
genus of aromatic
plants of the
familyLamiaceae, related to
rosemary and
thyme. It is native to
North Africa, southern and southeastern
Europe, the
Middle East, and
Central Asia. A few
New World species were formerly included in Satureja, but they have all been moved to other genera. Several species are cultivated as culinary herbs called savory, and they have become established in the wild in a few places.[1][2]
Description
Satureja species may be
annual or
perennial. They are low-growing
herbs and
subshrubs, reaching heights of 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in).
The
leaves are 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long, with
flowers forming in whorls on the stem, white to pale pink-violet.
Savory may be grown purely for ornamental purposes; members of the genus need sun and well-drained soil.
Uses
Both
summer savory (Satureja hortensis) and
winter savory (Satureja montana) are used to flavor food. The former is preferred by cooks but as an annual is only available in summer; winter savory is an evergreen perennial.
A recent study found the essential oils of Satureja edmondii have antimicrobial properties and can protect food from S. aureus.[3] The test was conducted on commercial soup products.[3]
Satureja hortensis L. – summer savory – Italy, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia, Crimea, Caucasus, Altai Republic, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, western Himalayas; naturalized in western Mediterranean,
Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Cuba, Dominican Republic, scattered locations in United States
The heterogeneous mixture of the Satureja hortensis L. essential oil in water serves as a natural herbicide. The addition of this mixture inhibits the root elongation of weeds which reduces the weed's root-to-shoot ratio. This further reduces the weed's cell division and inhibits its germination, growth, and physiological processes.[4]
Essential oils of Satureja khuzistanica have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties which can be useful in medical treatments.[5] A recent study found that higher concentrations of essential oils of Satureja khuzistanica helped reduce adverse effects of traumatic brain injuries in rats.[5]
The etymology of the Latin word "satureia" is unclear. Speculation that it is related to saturare,[6] to satyr,[6] or to
za'atar[7] is not well supported. The ancient Hebrew name is Tzatrah צתרה.
^Hazrati, Hossein; Saharkhiz, Mohammad Jamal; Niakousari, Mehrdad; Moein, Mahmoodreza (August 2017). "Natural herbicide activity of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil nanoemulsion on the seed germination and morphophysiological features of two important weed species". Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 142: 423–430.
doi:
10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.04.041.
ISSN1090-2414.
PMID28456128.
^
abF. E. J. Valpy, An Etymological Dictionary of the Latin Language, 1828, p. 542.
^DeBaggio, Thomas; Tucker, Arthur O. (2009). The encyclopedia of herbs : a comprehensive reference to herbs of flavor and fragrance (2nd ed.). Timber Press.
ISBN978-0881929942.