Unraveling the beneficial effects of herbal Lebanese mixture “Za’atar”. History, studies, and properties of a potential healthy food ingredient

•Plant-based healthy foods generate health-promoting effects, especially on chronic and cardio-metabolic diseases.•Za’atar mixture is commonly employed in the Mediterranean diet and is rich of bioactive compounds.•Za’atar components modulate gut microbiota, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and obesity.•The combined action of Za’atar components might generate beneficial effects for human health.