title: A pharmacological and phytochemical overview on Satureja.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Satureja (Lamiaceae) species are used as flavoring compounds in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its sweetness and simple cultivation characteristics. They have traditionally been used as muscle pain relievers, tonic, and carminative agents to treat stomach and intestinal disorders such as cramps, nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea, due to their considerable phytochemical characteristics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review evaluates some information published since 1989 on Satureja genus from a systematic perspective in terms of its pharmacological and phytochemical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to March 2014. "Satureja" was used as a research term without narrowing or limiting research elements. After obtaining all reports from database (a total number is about 637), the papers were carefully analyzed in order to find data related to the topic of this review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this review, 453 reports were used which were published between 1989 and 2014. The study was compiled into two sections (Pharmacology and Phytochemistry). In the pharmacology section, more than 50 different activities were studied. In the second section, in addition to other compounds and inorganic substances, volatiles, phenolic acids, and flavonoids were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our contemporary information, Satureja species have been evaluated for their wide range of biological activities. However, a small part of these studies have been carried out on the active principles. Therefore, in the future, more studies should be carried out to identify responsible phytochemicals for the various activities.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Literature , Kilis 7 Aralik University , Kilis , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Bektas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tepe
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Literature , Gaziantep University , Gaziantep , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cilkiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031362:Satureja
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Biological activity; essential oil; extract; phytochemistry