Background

• Savory is an aromatic plant used in cooking to enhance flavor. Summer savory (Satureja hortensis) and winter savory (Satureja montana) are the two types most commonly used. A commonly studied constituent is carvacrol.
• Savory is native to the Mediterranean region but has been used across Europe, North America, and South America as a seasoning for meats and salads.
• In traditional medicine, savory is used to treat diarrhea, nausea, cramps, muscle pain, indigestion, and infectious diseases. Limited evidence suggests that savory may help lower cholesterol in diabetics.

References

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• Tariku Y, Hymete A, Hailu A, et al. Essential-oil composition, antileishmanial, and toxicity study of Artemisia abyssinica and Satureja punctata ssp. punctata from Ethiopia. Chem Biodivers 2010;7(4):1009-18.
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• Tzakou O, Skaltsa H. Composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Satureja parnassica subsp parnassica. Planta Med 2003;69(3):282-4.
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• Vosough-Ghanbari S, Rahimi R, Kharabaf S, et al. Effects of Satureja khuzestanica on Serum Glucose, Lipids and Markers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Feb 27.
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• Yazdanparast R, Shahriyary L. Comparative effects of Artemisia dracunculus, Satureja hortensis and Origanum majorana on inhibition of blood platelet adhesion, aggregation and secretion. Vascul Pharmacol 2008;48(1):32-7.
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