A Review: The Significance of Lamiaceae Aromatic Plants in Saudi Arabia: Morphology, Phytochemistry, Essential Oils, and Sustainable Land Management Applications

Document Type : Regular Issue (Review)

Authors

1 Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science (Girls Branch), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia

3 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science (Boys Branch), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Aromatic plants are considered as one of the most important species, known for their significant contributions towards the human life since from ancient times to the present day. Their key importance lies in their production of odorous aromatic chemical compounds known as essential oils. These essential oils find extensive use in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Saudi Arabia is majorly rich towards the diversity of plants which includes aromatic species. The flora of Saudi Arabia consists of a total of 68 species of aromatic plants belonging to five different families, with Lamiaceae family being the most dominant; which comprises 42 species. This study aims to provide an overview of 15 endemic medicinal and aromatic plants native to Saudi Arabia, all of which belongs to Lamiaceae family. The focus is mainly on their morphology, distribution, phytochemical properties, and the significance of the essential oils extracted from these plants. However, further research and examination are required to fully comprehend the medicinal properties and chemical content of aromatic plants, such as Ballota undulata, Otostegia fruticosa, Satureja nabateorum, and Thymus decussatus.

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