savory

savory, group of about 30 species of aromatic herbs of the genus Satureja belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). The genus is native to Eurasia and North Africa and is cultivated in many climates, particularly in France and Spain. The dried leaves and flowering tops of several species are used to flavor many foods, particularly poultry and stuffings, and are a popular ingredient in herb bouquets. The dried leaves are greenish brown and have a fragrant aroma and slightly sharp, warm taste.

Types

The most common culinary species is summer savory (Satureja hortensis), an annual shrubby herb that grows well in warm climates. The square stems are covered with fine trichomes (plant hairs) and are sometimes tinged with purple. The linear gray-green leaves are arranged oppositely and are about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. The two-lipped flowers are white or pink and grow in whorls along the stems. Winter savory, or dwarf savory (Satureja montana), is a smaller perennial subshrub that flowers in summer. It is used for culinary purposes almost interchangeably with the summer species, although experts find it bitter and more harsh than summer savory. Creeping savory (Satureja spicigera), native to Turkey and Iran, is also a perennial and has a strong aromatic taste.

Chemical composition and uses

Savory contains about 1 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is the phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol. In addition, savory essential oil contains thymol, γ-terpinene, ρ-cymene, β-caryophyllene, α-terpinene, and β-bisabolene. Laboratory and preclinical studies have shown that these and other constituent compounds imbue savory essential oil with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, antidiabetic, and vasodilatory properties.

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In traditional medicine savory is used to treat muscle and bone pain, inflammation, blood clotting problems, and stomach ailments, including nausea, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Savory bioactives—non-nutrient organic substances that positively affect an organism’s physiology—are being studied clinically for potential use as antiseptics, respiratory medicines, and treatments for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer disease, and cardiovascular disease.