Thyme Extract

Thyme Extract

Thyme extract is produced from Thymus vulgaris L. aromatic plant which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Thymus vulgaris L. is a sub-shrub about 10-40 cm tall, with woody base and herbaceous upper part. It has 3.5-6.5 mm long and 0.8-3.0 mm wide, linear to ovate-lanceolate, pointed green leaves. The flowers of the plant are small, light purple and appear in late spring to early summer. Thyme can grow in conditions that may not be suitable for a variety of alternative plants. Warm and sunny climates with well-drained calcareous soils are sufficient. Thyme can be found both in sea level and heights above 800 m. (1)

Medicinal Usage

Thymus vulgaris L. has been used as herbal medicine since many years for the treatment of cough and cold, pneumonia, inflammatory diseases and intestinal disorders. Anti-anxiety, anti-depressant and anti-insomniac effects of Thymus vulgaris L. are reported in an article published in 2019 Additionally, it is also stated in the same article that Thymus vulgaris L. can be used for mouth infection, gastro-intestinal infection, urinary tract infection and respiratory diseases. (2) In another study, the increase in the rate of mucociliary clearance and the relaxation of trachea are observed in rats. (3) It is proved in the clinical studies that the Thyme extract can be used against cough, common cold, acute otitis externa, acute bronchitis and periodontal diseases. Thyme extract can be used alone or in combination of other herbal extracts such as Primula extract and Ivy leaf extract to be used as an expectorant. (1) In conclusion, Thymus vulgaris L. has been used in folk medicine and is still widely used today due to its expoctorant, secretolytic and anti-inflammatory activities besides its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic properties.

Chemistry Behind

Thyme extract mainly consists of terpenoids such as thymol, carvacrol, cymene and terpinene. The chemical constituents of thyme extract affects beta-2 receptors that is related to the relaxation of trachea and they are responsible for its expectorant and secretolytic effects.

References

1. Ana Sanches Silva, Devesh Tewari, Antoni Sureda, Ipek Suntar, Tarun Belwal, Maurizio Battino, Seyed M. Nabavi, Seyed F. Nabavi, The evidence of health benefits and food applications of Thymus vulgaris L., Trends in Food Science & Technology, Volume 117,2021, Pages 218-227, ISSN 0924-2244, doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.11.010.

2. S. Abbaszadeh, H. Teimouri, B. Farzan, An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants with antianxiety and antidepressant effects in shahrekord Egyptian Journal of Veterinart Science, 50 (1) 2019, pp. 81-87

3. Wienkötter N, Begrow F, Kinzinger U, Schierstedt D, Verspohl EJ. The effect of thyme extract on beta2-receptors and mucociliary clearance. Planta Med. 2007 Jun;73(7):629-35. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-981535. Epub 2007 Jun 12 PMID: 17564943