Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses

Abstract

Thymol is a naturally occurring phenol monoterpene derivative of cymene and isomer of carvacrol. Thymol (10-64%) is one of the major constituent of essential oils of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant with several therapeutic properties. This plant, native to Mediterranean regions, is commonly used as a culinary herb and also with a long history of use for different medicinal purposes. Nowadays, thymol and thyme present a wide range of functional possibilities in pharmacy, food, and cosmetic industry. The interest in the formulation of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals based on thymol is due to several studies that have evaluated the potential therapeutic uses of this compound for the treatment of disorders affecting the respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. Moreover, this compound also exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenesis, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic activities, as well as a potential as a growth enhancer and immunomodulator. In the present review, these bioactivities have been covered because some of them can contribute to explain the ethnopharmacology of thymol and its main source, T. vulgaris. Other important aspects about thymol are discussed: its toxicity and bioavailability, metabolism, and distribution in animals and humans.

Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Plants from the Genus Thymus

“…Monoterpenes are the most common group contained in Thymus genus EOs, while sesquiterpenes tend to be less important. The dominant monoterpenes components are thymol (10–64 %), carvacrol (0.4–20.6 %), p ‐cymene (9.1–22.2 %), α ‐pinene (0.9–6.6 %), linalool (2.2–4.8 %), 1,8‐cineole (0.2–14.2 %), γ ‐terpinene (5–10 %), camphene, α ‐terpinene, β ‐pinene, and terpinen‐4‐ol, as shown in Figure . Among them, thymol (2‐isopropyl‐5‐methylphenol), an isomer of carvacrol, is responsible for the typically strong and spicy thyme flavor.…”

“…Meanwhile, they summarized the clinical effectiveness of Thymus plants in human. And the bioactivities, toxicity, bioavailability, metabolism, and distribution of thymol in animals and human have also been concerned . Nabavi et al .…”

Phytochemicals in Helicobacter pylori Infections: What Are We Doing Now?

“…In fact, the active molecules used in pharmaceutical formulation are formerly derived from bioactive molecules extracted from plants and other living organisms [14]. Also, a growing number of studies have progressively underlined the multiple bioactive properties conferred by plant formulations [15,16]. Specifically, the antimicrobial effects of multiple plant preparations have been progressively confirmed and supported by both in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials [17,18,19,20,21].…”

Pharmacokinetic study of thymol after intravenous injection and high‐dose inhalation in mouse model

“…Currently, thymol presents a wide range of functional possibilities in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries . It has also been used as an additive in an inhalation anesthetic .…”

“…It has also been used as an additive in an inhalation anesthetic . For centuries, thymol has been shown to have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and antitumor activities . Previous reports have studied the pharmacokinetics of thymol following oral administration .…”