Micromeria fruticosa

Micromeria fruticosa (syn. Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum), commonly known as white micromeria or white-leaved savory, is a dwarf evergreen shrub endemic to the eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel),[1] as well as found in the Balkans.[2] It is a member of the genus Micromeria, in the family Lamiaceae. It is known as zuta levana (זוטה לבנה or זוטא לבנה) in today's Modern Hebrew and ashab a-shai (عشب الشاي) in Arabic.[3] The Bedouins, however, call it by the Arabic name, qurniyya (Arabic: القورنِيه), believed to be a cognate of the Hebrew qoranit, an aromatic herb described in the Mishnah.[4] The plant's aromatic leaves (resembling mint) are used in making decoctions (herbal teas).

Micromeria fruticosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Micromeria
Species:
M. fruticosa
Binomial name
Micromeria fruticosa
Druce
Synonyms
  • Clinopodium serpyllifolium (M. Bieb.) Kuntze subsp. fruticosum (L.) Bräuchler

White-leaved savory grows mainly on rock surfaces in the low Mediterranean region, and is more common on chalk and calcrete rocks than on rocks of limestone.[5] In the Levant its white blossoms can be seen between July and November.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Phytochemistry
Micromeria fruticosa in habitat of Judean mountains

A total of 215 phenolics and other chemical compound were identified in the methanol extracts of M. fruticosa leaves. Of which, over 180 phytochemicals (87 flavonoids, 41 phenolic acids, 16 terpenoids, 8 sulfate derivatives, 7 iridoids, and others) are reported in Micromeria. Some of the metabolites separated include: acacetin-7-O-rutinoside; apigenin 7-O-rutinoside; chlorogenic acid; coumaroylagmatine; lithospermic acid; rosmarinic acid; rutin; sagerinic acid; salvinorin C; santaflavone; and other sulfate derivatives.[6]

Plant properties

The plant, which contains a high concentration of the monoterpene essential oil known as pulegone, as well as isomenthol, is known for its medicinal properties. In folk remedies, it has been used in treating ailments such as abdominal pains, diarrhoea, eye infections, heart disorders, high blood pressure, weariness, exhaustion, colds and open wounds.[7] Other usages include making a poultice from the boiled leaves and applying it onto burns and skin infections, or drinking an infusion from its leaves for relieving stomach aches, or gargling with the same for treating bad breath odors and gum infections.[8]

Further reading
  • Dudai, N.; Larkov, O.; Ravid, U.; Putievsky, E.; Lewinsohn, E. (2001). "Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce". Annals of Botany. 88 (3): 349–354. doi:10.1006/anbo.2001.1466.

References
  1. Dudai et al. Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa(L.) Druce, Annals of Botany, Volume 88, Number 3, Pp. 349-354, Oxford Journals
  2. Daphne, Amos (1983), "Micromeria fruticosa", in Heller, David; Livneh, Micah (eds.), Plants and Animals of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew), vol. 11, Tel Aviv: Israel Ministry of Defence, in affiliation with the Nature Protection Society, pp. 78–79, ISBN 965-05-0078-2
  3. Micromeria fruticosa, Wildflowers of Israel
  4. See p. 149 in: Witztum, Allan (1992). "Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic Names for Plants in the Mint Family". Lĕšonénu: A Journal for the Study of the Hebrew Language and Cognate Subjects: 147–151. JSTOR 24345785. (Hebrew)
  5. Avi Shmida, MAPA's Dictionary of Plants and Flowers in Israel, Tel Aviv 2005, p. 48 (s.v. Micromeria fruticosa) (in Hebrew) OCLC 716569354
  6. Abu-Reidah, Ibrahim M.; Arráez-Román, David; Al-Nuri, Mohammed; Warad, Ismail; Segura-Carretero, Antonio (2019-05-01). "Untargeted metabolite profiling and phytochemical analysis of Micromeria fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae) leaves". Food Chemistry. 279: 128–143. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.11.144. ISSN 1873-7072. PMID 30611472.
  7. Dudai, Larkov, Ravid, Putievsky and Lewinsohn, Developmental Control of Monoterpene Content and Composition in Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce, Annals of Botany, Volume 88, Number 3, Oxford 2001, p. 349
  8. Nissim Krispil, Medicinal Plants in Israel and Throughout the World - the Complete Guide, Or Yehuda (Israel) 2000, p. 92
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