Thyme

Generic name: Thymus Vulgaris L.
Brand names: Common Thyme, Garden Thyme

Usage of Thyme

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

Thyme side effects

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

Before taking Thyme

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

How to use Thyme

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

Warnings

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

What other drugs will affect Thyme

Clinical information is lacking. Increases in GST levels were observed in experiments in mice.(Sasaki 2005)

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