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Chemistry, Pharmacology and Medicinal Property of Savory (Satureja L.) to Prevent and Cure Illnesses such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Alzheimer ’s Disease, and Cancer

Authors:
  • Pars Biosciences Research Center USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT; Savory (Satureja L.) is known as the Functional Novel Natural Medicine, (Satureja L.). Extract are considered important for drug development, because they are reported to have Pharmacological activity in the Asia, Middle East especially China and India. For a long time Savory (Satureja L.) plant species have been used for centuries as culinary herbs and spices, as well as traditional remedies for the treatment or relief of various common health symptoms in many parts of the world. Recent studies suggest that the use of some Satureja species is effective in protecting the body against oxidative stress, free radical damage, inflammation, microbial infections, etc. A review of many studies suggests that savory species, in addition to treating minor ordinary ailments, can potentially provide a novel natural prevention or treatment for some chronic and serious illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.(figure 1)
Journal of Traditional and Compeimentary Medicine Volume 4 Issue 3 July 2014 Pages - ??-??
ISSN 0255-2922
VOL. 4 | Issue 3 | July 2014
Journal of
Traditional and
Complementary Medicine
140
Journal of Tradional and Complementary Medicine
Journal homepage http://www.jtcm.org
INTRODUCTION
Plants of the genus Satureja L. (savory) belong to the Lamia‑
ceae family and contain about 200 species of herbs and shrubs
which are grown mostly in the Mediterranean region, Europe, West
Asia, North Africa, the Canary Islands, and South America.[1] Sat-
ureja hortensis L. (summer savory or garden savory) is one of the
well‑known Satureja species that originated in the Mediterranean
region and naturalized in parts of North America.[2] On average, this
plant grows about 1 or 2 feet producing purplish‑pink owers.[3]
Since ancient times, summer savory has been widely used as
an, and infectious diseases.[4,5] The volatile oil, oleoresin, tincture,
and extract of Satureja species have been found to have a variety
Summer Savory: From the Selection of Traditional
Applications to the Novel Effect in Relief, Prevention, and
Treatment of a Number of Serious Illnesses such as Diabetes,
Cardiovascular Disease, Alzheimer ’s Disease, and Cancer
Rae Hamidpour1, Soheila Hamidpour1, Mohsen Hamidpour2, Mina Shahlari1, Mahnaz Sohraby1
1Department of Herbal Medicine, Pars Bioscience, Leawood, KS, USA.
2Department of Hematology and Blood Banking Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
ABSTRACT
Savory (Satureja L.) plant species have been used for centuries as culinary herbs and spices, as well as traditional remedies for the treatment
or relief of various common health symptoms in many parts of the world. Recent studies suggest that the use of some Satureja species is
effective in protecting the body against oxidative stress, free radical damage, inammation, microbial infections, etc., A review of many
studies suggests that savory species, in addition to treating minor ordinary ailments, can potentially provide a novel natural prevention
or treatment for some chronic and serious illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
Key words: Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes
of properties including antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant,
anti‑inammatory, and many others.[4]
The remarkable types in the chemical composition and therapeutic
value of savory species provide evidence for the antimicrobial and an
tioxidant activites of these herbal medicines and also other biological
effects.[1] The aim of our study is to determine the antioxidant proper
ties of the essential oil and various extracts obtained from summer
savory by using different types of solvents and chemical composition
of hydro‑distilled volatile oil from the aerial part of the plant.
COMPOUNDS
Among the medicinal plants, Satureja species have gained in
creasing interest because they are composed of different bioactive
Correspondence to:
Dr. Rae Hamidpour, Department of Herbal Medicine, Pars Bioscience LLC, 14109 Cambridge Lane, Leawood, KS 66224, USA. Tel: (913) 432‑0107;
Fax: (913) 432‑5708; E‑mail: rae@parsbioscience.com
DOI: 10.4103/2225‑4110.136540
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vo1. 4, No. 3, pp. 140‑144
Copyright © 2014 Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Taiwan
141
Hamidpour, et al. / Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 4 (2014) 140‑144
chemicals such as volatile oils, phenolic compounds, avonoids, tan
nins, steroids, acids, gums, mucilage, pyrocatechols, etc.[1,5,6] Stud
ies have shown that there is an abundance of a variety in chemical
composition and therapeutic values of different Satureja species.[1]
The major constituents of the essential oils from savory
species are carvacrol, thymol, phenols, and avonoids.[1] Many
reports show that in S. hortensis, carvacrol,[7] thymol, γ‑terpinene,
and ρ‑cymene are the main components of the essential oil and
α‑terpinene, β‑caryophyllene, and β‑bisabolene are present in
smaller amounts[8,9] [Table 1 and Figure 1].
Rosmarinic acid was found to be the major compound in the
ethanolic extracts of summer savory and some other Lamiaceae
herbs.[10] Rosmarinic acid is known for its antiviral, antioxidant,
anti‑inammatory, and immunostimulating activities. The study
shows that rosmarinic acid in all the Lamiaceae family members
is accompanied with caffeic acid or benzoic derivatives.[11]
The high amount of polyphenols and avonoids, in addition to
the simple cultivation and good smelling properties is the reason
for using savory species in food preparation and also in cosmetic
and pharmaceutical industries.[1]
Dried summer savory contains approximately 1% of volatile
oil composed primarily of carvacrol thymol and monoterpene
hydrocarbons such as beta‑pinene, p‑cymene, limonene, and cam
phene. The leaves contain various minor components including
minerals and vitamins.
Winter savory contains about 1.6% of volatile oil. Some au
thors document the dominant components of the oil as caryophyl‑
lene and geraniol or as carvacrol. Twenty‑one compounds, which
represent 97.4% of the total oil, have been identied. The major
compound was phenolic monoterpene thymol followed by mono‑
terpenic hydrocarbons p‑cymene, γ‑terpinene, oxygen‑containing
compounds carvacrol methyl ether, thymol methyl ether, carvacrol,
geraniol, and borneol. It also contains triterpenic acids including
ursolic and oleanolic acids.
MEDICINAL USES
Savory species have been used in traditional medicine to
treat various ailments and their symptoms. They have been used
to relieve muscle pain, stomach and intestinal disorders such as
nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea, and infectious diseases.[1,5,12]
Recently, the other properties of Satureja species, including
antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti‑diabetic, anti‑hyperlipidemic,
antispasmodic,[2] anti‑nociceptive,[13] anti‑inammatory,[13] antipro
liferative,[5] sedative,[2] reproduction stimulatory, and vasodilatory
activities have been proven by many studies.[1,5]
Antioxidant activity
Oxidative damage plays an important role in the onset and
progression of many diseases in the human body and it is caused
due to the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during
regular cell aerobic respiration. Antioxidants have a signicant
effect in protection of cells against oxidative damages[2] and in
the prevention of many degenerative illnesses.[14]
Studies of many Satureja species have proven their strong an‑
tioxidant properties.[1] The essential oil of S. hortensis plant is rich
in isopropanoids such as carvacrol, thymol, γ‑terpinene, avonoids,
and other phenols which are known to possess strong antioxidant
effects.[1,2] The leaves of summer savory (S. hortensis) are rich in
phenolic compounds, particularly rosmarinic acid and avonoids,
which account for the high antioxidant capacity of the leaves.[10]
Cancer
Phenolic compounds are naturally present in almost all plant
materials and they can delay or inhibit the oxidative damages
caused by free radical and non‑free radical species.[4] Thinhibition
of initiation and propagation of oxidative chain reactions can have
a protective effect against major illnesses such as cardiovascular
Table 1. Chemical composition of summer savory essential oil
Compound Retention time (min) Amount (%)
α‑Thujene 10.61 1.24
α‑Pinene 10.99 2.91
Camphene 11.66 0.15
β‑Pinene 12.96 0.92
Myrecene 13.42 1.98
α‑Phellandrene 14.18 0.74
α‑Terpinene 14.97 2.93
ρ‑Cymene 15.32 6.30
Limonene 15.94 2.55
ץ‑ Terpinene 16.97 20.72
Cyclopantene 22.20 0.21
Terpinene‑4‑ol 22.8 0.17
L‑Carvone 27.31 0.54
Carvacrol 28.87 24.50
Thymol 29.18 23.12
Carvacryl acetate 31.88 0.75
Aromanderene 34.86 0.34
Ledene 37.12 0.19
β‑Bisabolene 37.47 2.20
α‑Bisabolene 38.70 0.19
Spathalenol 40.62 0.23
Caryophelene oxide 40.85 1.70
Benzenemethanol 52.69 0.19
Ref: (food control) 2007; 18;1518‑23
Figure 1. Fresh summer savory
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Hamidpour, et al. / Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 4 (2014) 140‑144
disease, neurological disorders, oxidative stress dysfunctions,
and cancer.[4,14]
Many investigations have proved that phenolic acids and
avonoids can exhibit various pharmacological properties such
as antimicrobial, anti‑inammatory, vasoprotective, anti‑carcino
genic, anti‑allergic, and antiproliferative activities.[15]
Some of the savory species such as Satureja montana L. have
been used in the treatment of different types of cancer.[15] The
report shows that among some of the human cancer cells, HeLa
(human cervix epidermoid carcinoma), found to be the most sen‑
sitive to the extracts of savory also the growth of HT‑29 (human
colon adenocarcinoma) cells, was inhibited by the extracts at a
concentration above 0.7 mg/ml. The result indicates that some
Satureja species like S. montana L. extracts are strong antioxi‑
dants which can selectively inhibit the growth of several human
tumor cells.[15]
Natural products have been shown to be excellent and reli‑
able sources for the development of new drugs. Carvacrol is an
aromatic monotrepene found in the essential oils of many aromatic
plants.[16] The effect of carvacrol on a human non‑small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC) cell line known as A549 shows that carvacrol
has an inhibitory effect on the cancer cells, but does not have a
signicant effect on normal lung cells (HFL1).[16] The study shows
that carvacrol may have an anti‑carcinogenic effect and it could be
used as a drug substance for the treatment of cancer.[16]
Antidiabetic and anti‑cholesterol effects
Antioxidants play a signicant role in the improvement of
disorders related to oxidative stress damages, such as diabetes
mellitus,[17] and the best treatment for preventing and slowing the
progression of diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia and
hepatic damage is antioxidant therapy. Recently, researchers are
becoming more interested in the extraction of natural antioxidants
from medicinal herbs as a replacement for synthetic antioxi
dants.[18] Polyphenols are well‑known natural antioxidants which
have proven to function similar to antidiabetic drugs by reducing
the blood glucose levels.[18]
Satureja khuzestanica (SKE) is a common savory plant of
Iran which possesses antioxidant properties and its anti‑diabetic
activity has been proven in several studies.[1,18] SKE decreases
serum glucose and malondealdehyde levels in diabetic patients.[18]
The hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and antiatherogenic effects
of SKE essential oil have been evaluated.[18] These can decrease
the risk of cardiovascular death and hepatic damage in diabetic
patients.[18]
The main components of Satureja species are essential oils,
such as carvacrol and thymol, which were found to be responsible
for lowering the serum cholesterol levels.[1,17,18] Flavonoids, which
are also the main ingredients of Satureja species, have been re‑
ported to have antioxidant and anti‑hyperlipidemic properties.[17]
In several studies, SKE signicantly decreased the fasting blood
glucose and triglyceride levels in diabetic and hyperlipidemic rats
and also improved lipid peroxidation and ATP levels.[17] This result
shows that some Satureja species such as SKE, with their lipid
lowering and antioxidant properties, could be used as a supplement
in diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia.[17]
Cardiovascular diseases
Platelet hyperactivity can cause the adhesion of platelet to the
vessel wall and can lead to thrombosis (blood clots in the artery
or vein) and cardiovascular problems.[19]
Studies have reported that S. hortensis has blood anticoagulant
activity. Carvacrol and other monoterpene hydrocarbons, avo
noids like apigenin, and phenolic acids like labiatic acid could
contribute to the anti‑platelet property of S. hortensis.[19] Studies
have proved that the methanol extract of S. hortensis L. has in‑
hibitory effect on blood platelet adhesion, aggregation, and secre‑
tion, which might be the reason for its traditional use in treating
cardiovascular and blood clot problems.[9]
Anti‑inammatory and analgesic effects
Inammation is a defense mechanism of body in response to
pathophysiological problems, and many studies have been per‑
formed to develop more powerful anti‑inammatory drugs with
lesser side effects.[20]
Lamiaceae family plants are well‑known for their signicant
antispasmodic and pain‑relieving properties. Various compounds
of Satureja species such as some avonoids have been recognized
to be responsible for their analgesic, relaxant, and vasodilatory
effects in animal studies.[1]
Some species of the genus Satureja have been found to have
benecial anti‑inammatory effects in addition to analgesic activ
ity.[1] In traditional folk medicine, S. hortensis L. has been used
as a muscle and bone pain reliever.[13] Studies have shown that
polyphenolic compounds and essential oil of Satureja species
have potent anti‑inammatory effects. The studies support the
traditional usage of S. hortensis as a remedy for reducing inam
mation and relieving pain.[13]
Some studies have shown that some Satureja species such as
S. hortensis and SKE can act as an anti‑inammatory agent and are
comparable to prednisolone, indomethacin, and morphine.[1] The
anti‑inammatory activity of S. hortensis is related to the polyphenolic
fraction, especially rosmarinic acid, whose anti‑inammatory and anti
allergic properties have been proven in animal and human trials.[10]
Alzheimer’s disease
Lack of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter, has been
accepted as the reason for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Acetyl
cholinesterase inhibitor drugs have been used for the treatment of
Alzheimer’s. However, most of these drugs have side effects. The
development of natural origin compounds with antioxidant and
anticholinesterase activities is highly desirable for controlling this
kind of disorder.[21]
Antioxidants play an important role as neuroprotective agents
in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.[22]A study shows that
in some Satureja species, the phenolic compounds, especially
avonoids and avonoid glycosides, can provide potential source
of antioxidants which can slow down the development of the Al‑
zheimer’s disease and reduce neuronal degeneration.[21]
Satureja species are rich in thymol and carvacrol and their
consumption may be useful as moderate cholinesterase inhibitory
agents and can protect people against oxidative stress and amnesia
without any side effects [Figure 2].[21]
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Hamidpour, et al. / Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 4 (2014) 140‑144
Antimicrobial activity
In recent years, there have been tremendous studies focusing
on the antimicrobial activity of essential oils of aromatic plants
and their potential role in food preservation.[23] There are many
reports showing the relationship between the chemical structure of
components in the essential oils and their antimicrobial activities.
Essential oils act on cell membranes by interfering and destabiliz‑
ing the phospholipid bi‑layer performance and altering the enzyme
activities and genetic resources in bacteria.[24]
The essential oil of S. hortensis L. contains signicant amounts
of two phenolic ketones: Carvacrol and thymol. They are isomeric
compounds containing a phenol group in their structures. Carvacrol
and thymol have been generally reported to have a strong inhibitory
effect on the growth of wide range of microorganisms including
fungi and bacteria.[6,8,23]
The high antimicrobial activity of the members of Satureja
family is due to the presence of phenolic components and their
precursors,[8,25] which act by disruption of the permeability bar‑
rier of cell membrane and inhibition of respiration of the cell.[7,8]
Studies have shown that thymol has the best inhibitory effect
against Staphylococcus aureus. Carvacrol and ρ‑cymene are more
toxic against Escherichia coli. γ‑terpinene, the non‑oxygenated
hydrocarbon, has been reported to be active against S. aureus and
Candida albicans.[25]
From ancient times, the antimicrobial activities of some
herbs and spices have been recognized and they have been used
in food preservation and medicine. Recently, natural food pre‑
servatives have received increasing attention due to the growing
concern of consumers for microbial resistance in conventional
preservatives.[26]
The growth of fungi in food can cause spoilage and contami‑
nation. Some Aspergillus species such as Aspergillus avus and
Aspergillus parasiticus are able to produce aatoxin in food and
foodstuffs.[26] The presence of toxigenic fungi, mycotoxin, in food
and grains stored for a long period can have a potential hazardous
effect. Aatoxins are known to be potent hepatocarcinogens in
animals and human beings. Several species of savory have been
found to have antifungal activities.[26] In a study, the essential oil
of S. hortensis has been found to have a strong antifungal activity
against A. avus and it can be used as a source of eco‑friendly
botanical fungicides to protect some stored food products from
pathogens and saprophytic fungi.[27] Therefore, summer savory,
in addition to its use as a product for avoring food and other
traditional uses, can be considered as an alternative preservative
in food products due to its antimicrobial activities.[24]
The antiviral activities of essential oil of some savory species
also have been documented.[5] It has been proven in studies that
Satureja boliviana can inhibit the activities of hepatitis B, herpes
simplex type 1 virus (HSV‑1), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)
in vitro, and also, the protective effect of S. montana against HIV‑1
virus has been proved.[1,28]
DOSAGES AND SAFETY
People worldwide traditionally use Satureja species as herbal
tea, spices, and folk medicine.[1] Savory can be consumed as hot
tea, cold infusion, or tablet form. People with high blood pressure
take tablets containing 250 mg of dried savory leaves once a day
for 60 days.[28]
Although the side effects from savory are rare, people who are
taking medication for diabetes, hypoglycemia, high blood pres‑
sure, bleeding disorders, and other ailments are cautioned about
its use.[28] Consultation with a healthcare provider is needed before
starting any new therapy or consumption of medicinal plants.
Savory is not recommended for children, pregnant women,
and breastfeeding women due to a lack of sufcient evidence for
its use in them.
CONCLUSIONS
Savory (Satureja L.) species have been used as herbal teas and
spices for avoring food and as a traditional remedy for relieving
or treating various symptoms. Savory species are composed of high
amounts of polyphenols and avonoids. Studies have shown that
the chemical composition of Satureja species changes signicantly
depending on the species, the ecological condition, the geographic
location, and stages of development.
In extensive studies done around the world on Satureja species,
the antimicrobial, anti‑inammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic,
antitumor, and other important medicinal effects of this plant have
been demonstrated, in addition to its other traditional uses. With
more extensive studies on Satureja species in the future, it is pos‑
sible to nd a new complementary or alternative natural medicine
for the control, prevention, or treatment of some kinds of serious
illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
It seems the extracts (aqueous and alcoholic) and essential oil could
be considered as a cheap, easily accessible, and potential source
of natural antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical purposes.
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Book
The present book opens the ability of aromatic plants for phytoremediation programs and explores the opportunity of obtaining essential oil as an economy from polluted lands through the phytomanagement of valuable aromatic plants. The present book provides the notion of phytoremediation using aromatic plants to make phytoremediation a more viable option for remediating contaminated lands, as the essential oil of aromatic plants is famous for its bioeconomy significance. Some aromatic grasses show significant roles in the restoration of polluted lands because of their fast growth, regeneration, and easy establishment. This unique book is a matchless compilation that offers a pioneering fusion of scientific and practical knowledge on the phytoremediation of polluted lands using aromatic plants. It also addresses useful facts for practitioners and stakeholders to select specific aromatic plants rendering to site specificity.
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A hydro-distilled oil of Satureja hortensis L. was investigated for its antimicrobial activity against a panel of 11 bacterial and three fungal strains. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the disk-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The essential oil of S. hortensis L. showed significant activity against a wide spectrum of Gram (-) bacteria (MIC/MBC=0.025-0.78/0.05-0.78 ?l/ml) and Gram (+) bacteria (MIC/MBC=0.05-0.39/0.05-0.78 ?l/ml), as well as against fungal strains (MIC/MBC=0.20/0.78 ?l/ml). The results indicate that this oil can be used in food conservation, treatment of different diseases of humans, and also for the treatment of plants infected by phytopathogens. Detected autoplagiarism. Link to the Editorial Decision 10.2298/ABS1004251U
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Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L., Lamiaceae) is used in several regions of the world as a spice and folk medicine. Anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of S. hortensis and of its rosmarinic acid-rich phenolic fraction have been demonstrated in animal trials. However, previous studies of rosmarinic acid in cell models have yielded controversial results. In this study, we investigated the effects of summer savory extracts on H2O2-challenged human lymphoblastoid Jurkat T cells. LC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as hesperidin and naringin in the phenolic fraction. Adding 25 or 50 µM of H2O2 to the cell culture caused oxidative stress, manifested as generation of superoxide and peroxyl radicals, reduced cell viability, G0/G1 arrest, and enhanced apoptosis. This stress was significantly alleviated by the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of S. hortensis and by the partially purified rosmarinic acid fraction. The application of an aqueous S. hortensis extract doubled the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the cells. The production of IL-2 and IL-10 interleukins was stimulated by H2O2 and was further enhanced by the addition of the S. hortensis extract or rosmarinic acid fraction. The H2O2-challenged Jurkat cells may serve as a model for investigating cellular mechanisms of cytoprotective phytonutrient effects.
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Antibacterial properties and chemical characterization of the essential oils from summer savory (Satureja hortensis) extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) were compared with those of the essential oils extracted using the traditional hydrodistillation (HD) method. While MAHD at 660 W required half as much time as HD needed, similar antibacterial efficacies were found from the essential oils obtained by the two extraction methods on two food pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive bacterium, and Escherchia coli, a gram negative bacterium). Also, as it was the case with the essential oils extracted by HD, that of MAHD indicated greater influence on S. aureus than on E. coli. The compositions of the extracted essential oils were also studied using GC-MS analysis. The same components with negligible differences in their quantities were found in the extracted essential oils using the two methods outlined above. Overall, to reduce the extraction time, MAHD can be applied at higher microwave levels without any compromise in the antibacterial properties of the essential oils extracted.
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