Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Properties of Thyme Oil and Its Main Constituents

Abstract

Thyme oil (TO) is derived from the flowers of various plants belonging to the genus Thymus. It has been used as a therapeutic agent since ancient times. Thymus comprises numerous molecular species exhibiting diverse therapeutic properties that are dependent on their biologically active concentrations in the extracted oil. It is therefore not surprising that oils extracted from different thyme plants present different therapeutic properties. Furthermore, the phenophase of the same plant species has been shown to yield different anti-inflammatory properties. Given the proven efficacy of TO and the diversity of its constituents, a better understanding of the interactions of the various components is warranted. The aim of this review is to gather the latest research findings regarding TO and its components with respect to their immunomodulatory properties. An optimization of the various components has the potential to yield more effective thyme formulations with increased potency.

Eco-Friendly Sanitization of Indoor Environments: Effectiveness of Thyme Essential Oil in Controlling Bioaerosol Levels and Disinfecting Surfaces

“…The in vitro antibacterial properties of TEO 100% were confirmed also by quantitative assays, through the determination of MIC and MBC values, thus demonstrating TEO bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against all tested foodborne and environmental bacterial isolates, in both liquid and vapor phases. These results are in line with other studies about the antibacterial activity of thyme essential oil [ 5 , 24 ]. They confirm that the use of very low concentrations of TEO 100% is sufficient to inhibit the growth of bacteria present in the air and on inanimate surfaces.…”

“…In particular, the use of essential oils as antimicrobial agents arouses more interest due to their unique biological properties and their potential for limited environmental impact. Essential oils, extracted from aromatic plants, have been used for centuries for their therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties [ 5 ]. However, only recently their efficacy as antimicrobial agents has been the subject of in-depth scientific investigation.…”

Phytochemical characterization and multifaceted bioactivity assessment of essential oil from Ptychotis verticillata Duby: Anti-diabetic, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-inflammatory activity

“…Analysis of the chemical composition revealed the presence of various aromatic and terpene compounds, with major constituents such as γ-terpinene, β-cymene, carvacrol, and thymol. These compounds are recognized for their diverse biological properties, encompassing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects [ 52 , 53 ]. Notably, carvacrol and thymol, classified as phenolic monoterpenoids characterized by a hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring [ 54 , 55 ], have demonstrated potent inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and xanthine oxidase in prior studies [ [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] ].…”

Phytocytogenotoxicity of Esters obtained from Phenols and Phenoxyacetic Acid using the Steglich reaction

“…Esters 2-7 were synthesized using the identical procedure outlined above, reacting phenoxyacetic acid with the corresponding phenols: vanillin, eugenol, carvacrol, guaiacol, p-cresol, and 2-naphthol. (44); 108 (11); 107 (54); 77 (20); 77 (44); 51 (6); 41 (4).…”

“…Thymol and carvacrol are isomeric monoterpene phenolic compounds found as the main components of oregano and thyme essential oils 9 . These phenols exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological effects, including anticancer 10 , anti-in ammatory 11 , antibacterial 12 , antifungal 13 , anticholinesterase 14 , insecticidal 15 , and antioxidant activities 16 . Several derivatives of carvacrol and thymol have been synthesized, demonstrating similar or increased activity compared to the original phenols 17,18 .…”