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Morocco is characterized by a great richness and biodiversity in Thymus plants. This genus is represented in this country by 22 thyme species and subspecies, 13 of which are endemic. The present review aims to study the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and biological aspects of these thyme species. To carry out this study, the research studies on Moroccan Thymus plants were reviewed in the scientific literature. We found that the species of this genus have widespread uses and applications in Moroccan folk medicine. These plants possess potent pharmacological and biological properties. Moreover, the extracts and volatile oils of thyme plants are rich in a wide variety of phenolic and terpene compounds. These bioactive compounds exert countless biological and pharmacological properties. The present review concludes that there is an important biodiversity in thyme species in Morocco. These species are endowed with several biological properties and ethnopharmacological uses. However, several species of this genus are still not exploited and need more botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological investigations.

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Background: Thymus willdenowii Boiss & Reut. (T. willdenowii) is a medicinal plant that grows in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains. It is used in local folk medicine to treat several disorders including cardiovascular disease. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of the traditionally used aqueous extract of T. willdenowii. Methods: The extraction of the plant was assessed using the traditionally used decoction method. Total contents of polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and tannins (TTC) were estimated and in vitro antioxidant assays namely DPPH, FRAP, and TAC were carried out to evaluate its antioxidant potential. Moreover, the anti-hyperlipidemic activity was tested on rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing sucrose (15%), lard (15%), and cholesterol (2%). Thyme extract was given daily at 500 mg/kg. Results: After 2 months of treatment, lipid profile parameters and arylesterase activity were determined. The findings showed that T. willdenowii extract is rich in phenolic compounds (TPC = 127.34 GAE mg/gE; TFC = 105.43 RE mg/gE; TTC = 24.08 CE mg/gE) and exhibits important antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 0.41 mg/mL; FRAP value = 1.31 Fe2+E mM; TAC value = 322.13 AAE µg/gE). Moreover, T. willdenowii extract significantly reduced the alterations caused by HFD intake by decreasing blood lipids (TC: -28.19 %; TGs: -22.82 %; LDL-C: -35.11 %) and increasing paraoxonase-1 arylesterase activity (+12.83 %). Conclusion: We conclude that the traditional use of T. willdenowii is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.