Abstract
The interest in za’atar has increased in recent years due to its economic, cultural, and functional importance. The traditional za’atar mix made from dried Origanum syriacum is now a demanded product nationally and internationally. Air-drying at low temperatures can preserve za’atar quality traits better than other techniques such as oven-drying. The Palestinian za’atar market has the potential to develop and increase its value. However, it is facing many challenges. Another valuable product of za’atar is essential oil. Za’atar essential oil quantity and quality are affected by many factors including geographical location, cultivation, harvesting season, soil, extraction method, temperature, and others. These factors interact with za’atar and with each other; therefore, some factors are more effective than others and further research is needed to determine the optimum condition for producing and obtaining za’atar essential oil. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities are the main functionalities of za’atar essential oil that are behind its medicinal importance. One hundred and twenty-one compounds have been identified in za’atar essential oil. The most common compounds are thymol, γ–terpinene, carvacrol, and α-pinene. The variation in the composition among za’atar essential oil samples results from the different conditions of the studies during za’atar growth as well as essential oil extraction.
Highlights
Three taxa grow in Morocco and the south of Spain restrictedly, two taxa are found in Algeria and Tunisia, three taxa are endemic to Cyrenaica, and nine taxa are found in Greece, South Balkans, and Asia Minor
For the essential oil composition, carvacrol was the main compound in essential oils obtained from O. syriacum harvested from the higher altitude locations, and thymol was the main compound in essential oils obtained from za’atar harvested from the lower altitude locations in three studies [21,22,23]
Carvacrol and thymol were the main compounds in essential oils obtained from O. syriacum harvested from the lower altitude locations, and γ-terpinene and α-terpinene were the main compounds in essential oils obtained from O. syriacum harvested from the higher altitude locations [19]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Origanum species grow spontaneously in the Mediterranean region and get harvested once or twice per year during the flowering stage from wild population plants [3]. The species Origanum syriacum is known by different names, such as “za’atar”, Lebanese oregano, Syrian oregano, and Bible hyssop [4]. It is a native crop in the eastern Mediterranean, western Asia, and southern Europe even though it has been cultivated in many parts of the world [5]. Za’atar production practices include seedling propagation, cultivation in the field, weed and pest control, irrigation and fertigation, and harvesting and processing herb [7]. We have provided information about environmental and processing conditions that can influence za’atar essential oil, its functionality, and its composition
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