Genus of flowering plants From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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.
Satureja cuneifolia Ten – Spain, Italy, Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia, Iraq
Satureja × delpozoi Sánchez-Gómez, J.F.Jiménez & R.Morales – Spain (S. cuneifolia × S. intricata var. gracilis)
Satureja edmondii Briq. – Iran
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 × exspectata G.López – Spain (S. intricata var. gracilis × S. montana)
Satureja fukarekii Šilic – Yugoslavia
Satureja hellenica Halácsy – Greece
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]
Satureja horvatii Šilic – Greece, Yugoslavia
Satureja icarica P.H.Davis – Greek Islands
Satureja innota (Pau) Font Quer – Spain
Satureja intermedia C.A.Mey. – Iran, Caucasus
Satureja intricata Lange – Spain
Satureja isophylla Rech.f. – Iran
Satureja kallarica Jamzad – Iran
Satureja kermanshahensis Jamzad – Iran
Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad – Iran
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]
Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. – Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia
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. Bibcode:2017EcoES.142..423H. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.04.041. ISSN1090-2414. PMID28456128.
DeBaggio, Thomas; Tucker, Arthur O. (2009). The encyclopedia of herbs: a comprehensive reference to herbs of flavor and fragrance (2nded.). Timber Press. ISBN978-0881929942.
