What is it about?

This study tested whether a phenolic-rich extract from Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis), a common Mediterranean spice, could reduce gut inflammation and related risks. In mice with induced colitis, the extract lowered diarrhea, gut lesions, and even mortality, while also reducing markers of inflammation such as COX-2 and iNOS, which are linked to tissue injury and progression toward colon cancer. The extract also performed well in an acute inflammation test, reducing paw swelling to the same extent as common anti-inflammatory drugs. Rich in rosmarinic and isoferulic acids, the extract showed strong antioxidant capacity, further supporting its protective effects.

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Why is it important?

Inflammatory bowel diseases raise the risk of colorectal cancer, and current therapies can be costly and difficult to tolerate. This work demonstrates, for the first time, that Summer Savory phenolic extract not only eases inflammation in the gut but also reduces mortality in a colitis model. It highlights the untapped medicinal potential of a familiar culinary herb and suggests new, natural strategies to prevent or complement treatment of chronic gut disease and cancer risk.

Perspectives

What excites me about this work is how an everyday spice, often overlooked outside the kitchen, shows such profound effects in serious disease models. To me, it underscores the idea that our diet can be a source of pharmacological tools. This research suggests that what we sprinkle on food for flavor might one day be developed into supplements that protect against inflammation and even cancer.

Dr. Rosa Direito
Universidade de Lisboa

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Attenuation of Colonic Injury and Inflammation by Administration of a Phenolic Extract of Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) in Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice, Applied Sciences, November 2020, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/app10238465.
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