Thyme
Scientific Name(s): Thymus vulgaris L.
Common Name(s): Common thyme, Garden thyme
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 28, 2022.
Clinical Overview
Use
Thyme has primarily culinary uses. Thyme extracts and thymol have been used in cough mixtures and mouthwashes, as well as for skin conditions, especially fungal infections. Clinical trials are lacking to support these uses.
Dosing
Studies are lacking to guide clinical dosages.
Contraindications
Information is lacking.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Contact dermatitis and systemic allergy have been reported.
Toxicology
Information is lacking.
Scientific Family
- Lamiaceae (Mint)
Botany
There are 6 recognized Thymus species, but many hybrids and varieties exist. T. vulgaris is a perennial plant native to some European and Asian countries. Thyme is a woody perennial (evergreen in mild winters) and is primarily grown as a herb. Numerous woody stems grow upward to form the 0.3 m height of the plant. The highly aromatic leaves are tiny, elliptical, and grey-green in color, and the margins roll under (revolute). Tiny tubular lilac flowers appear in late spring.PLANTS 2017, WHO 1999
History
Thyme was used as a symbol of elegance and grace in ancient Greece. Roman soldiers bathed in water infused with thyme for vigor, and Egyptians used thyme in the embalming process. Thyme sprigs were thought to be protective against plague, and thyme oil was used as an antiseptic during World War I. Teas made from thyme have been traditionally used for GI disorders and to treat intestinal parasites such as hookworm. Other traditional uses include treatment of bronchitis, as an agent in cough mixtures and mouthwashes, and as a topical application for acne and skin infections. Thyme has culinary applications and is commonly added to sausage meat and stuffing. It is used for its flavor in cosmetics and has been added to mouthwashes and toothpastes.Figueiredo 2008, Spiewak 2001
Chemistry
Although the essential oil of thyme has primarily been evaluated,Bozin 2006, Diaz-Maroto 2005, Kitajima 2004, Pina-Vaz 2004 some studies report on individual constituents isolated from the leaves and aerial plant parts.Chun 2001, Chun 2001, Dapkevicius 2002, Jukic 2007, Kitajima 2004, Takeuchi 2004 Composition varies with species, geographic distribution, and extraction methods.
Major chemical components include carvacrol and thymol, with cadalene, cineole, myrcene, terpinene, linalool, cymene, rosmarinic acid, and many other chemical constituents reported. Monoterpenoids, flavonoid glycosides, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides have been identified by spectrophotometric analysis and thin-layer chromatography.Bozin 2006, Chun 2001, Chun 2001, Dapkevicius 2002, Diaz-Maroto 2005, Jukic 2007, Kitajima 2004, Kitajima 2004, Pina-Vaz 2004, Takeuchi 2004
Uses and Pharmacology
Alzheimer disease
Carvacrol, thymol, linool, and thymol derivatives thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone inhibited acetylcholinesterase in laboratory experiments. Because of the decrease in hydrolysis of acetylcholine, a role in Alzheimer disease has been suggested; however, clinical trials are lacking to support this use.Figueiredo 2008, Jukic 2007
Antimicrobial effects
Animal data
Extracts of thyme and its individual chemical constituents have shown activity against various human pathogenic bacteria and fungi in in vitro studies, and thymol is commonly used in mouthwash preparations with chlorhexidine. Susceptible bacteria include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella and Shigella species.Bozin 2006, Figueiredo 2008, WHO 1999
Fungicidal activity on Candida species, Aspergillus, and other fungi has been demonstrated by carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene, as well as the essential oil of thyme.Figueiredo 2008, Giordani 2004, Pina-Vaz 2004 Potentiation of amphotericin B against Candida albicans was demonstrated in one in vitro experiment.Giordani 2004
Clinical data
Clinical trials with thyme or thyme extract alone are lacking, with studies largely based on chemical elucidation and analysis and laboratory experimentation.
Thyme as thyme honey has been evaluated for efficacy in rhinosinusitisHashemian 2015 and radiation-induced xerostomia,Charalambous 2017 with suggested benefit from the phenolic constituents of thyme extract in the honey.
Antioxidant effects
Animal data
Extracts of thyme and individual chemical constituents have been evaluated for their antioxidant potential. Phenolic constituents demonstrated nitric oxide scavenging potential in one experimentVigo 2004 with other tests showing effects on lipid peroxidation, free radical scavenging, hydrogen ion donation, and activity in oil stability index tests.Bozin 2006, Dapkevicius 2002, Figueiredo 2008, Miura 2002
Clinical data
Clinical trials are lacking, with studies largely based on chemical elucidation and analysis and laboratory experimentation.
Antiplatelet activity
Antiplatelet aggregating activity has been demonstrated in vitro by thymol and a biphenyl compound extracted from thyme.Okazaki 2002
Bronchodilatory effect
A relaxant effect of thyme extract has been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. The bronchodilatory effect is suggested to be comparable with theophylline.Boskabady 2006
Detoxification
Increases in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme and liver mass were observed in mice fed thyme extracts (2%) daily for 7 days, leading the investigators to postulate a detoxifying role for thyme because the conjugation of glutathione to various toxins would be enhanced.Sasaki 2005
Dosing
Studies are lacking to guide clinical applications. Tinctures and the essential oil are used topically for fungal infections. Thyme infusions have been used as a gargle at 5% concentrations.WHO 1999
The pharmacokinetics of thymol in healthy adults have been evaluated. No free thymol was found in the blood or urine, with sulfate and glucuronide metabolites identified in the urine. A mean terminal elimination half-life was estimated to be 10 hours.Kohlert 2002
Pregnancy / Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Thyme tea is reported to be used traditionally postpartum to induce uterine contractions and expulsion of the placenta; however, clinical or pharmacological data are lacking, and despite widespread use of thyme, safety problems have not been reported.WHO 1999
Interactions
Clinical information is lacking. Increases in GST levels were observed in experiments in mice.(Sasaki 2005)
Adverse Reactions
Information is lacking. Contact dermatitis and systemic reactions to thyme have been reported. Cross-reactivity with rosemary is a common finding with skin patch testing.Armisén 2003, Martínez-González 2007, Spiewak 2001
Toxicology
Information is lacking. Murine macrophage cell viability was unaffected at low to intermediate concentrations (less than 50 mcg/mL) of thyme extract.Vigo 2004 Mutagenic activity has not been found in a limited number of tests.WHO 1999
References
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