Thymus vulgaris L., Thymus zygis L. (Labiatae) Common Thyme ...

Thyme 

Species (Family) 

Thymus vulgaris L ., Thymus zygis L . (Labiatae) 

Synonym(s) 

Common Thyme, French Thyme, Garden Thyme, 

Rubbed Thyme 

Part(s) Used 

Flowering top, leaf 

Pharmacopoeial and Other 

Monographs 

BHP 1996 (G9) 

BP 200 1(015) 

Complete German Commission E (G3) 

ESCOP 1996 (G52) 

Martindale 32nd edition (G43) 

Mills and Bone (GSO) 

PDR for Herbal Medicines 2nd edition (036) 

Ph Eur 2002 (G28) 

WHO volume 1 1999 (G63) 

Legal Category (Licensed Products) 

GSL (G37) 

Constituents (G2,G22,G41,G52,G58,G64) 

Volatile oils 0 .8-2 .6% . Pharmacopoeial standard, 

not less than 1 .2% . (015) Phenols as major components 

(20-80%) primarily thymol and carvacrol ; 

others include p-cymene and y-terpinene (monoterpenes), 

linalool, a-terpineol, and thujan-4-ol 

(alcohols) ; biphenyl compounds of monoterpene origin 

. (G52) A detailed analysis of the volatile oil components 

is given elsewhere 

(G22) 

. 

Flavonoids Cirsineol, 8-methoxycirsineol, thymonin 

and eriodictyol . 

Other constituents Caffeic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic 

acid, rosmarinic acid, resins, saponins and tannins . 

Food Use 

Thyme is commonly used as a culinary herb, and 

thyme oil is used in food flavouring . In the USA, 

thyme is listed as GRAS (Generally Recognised As 

Safe ) . ( G65) 

Herbal Use (G2,G4,G7,G32,G43,G50,G52,G64) 

Thyme is stated to possess carminative, antispasmodic, 

antitussive, expectorant, secretomotor, bactericidal, 

anthelmintic and astringent properties . 

Traditionally, it has been used for dyspepsia, chronic 

gastritis, asthma, diarrhoea in children, enuresis in 

children, laryngitis, tonsillitis (as a gargle), and specifically 

for pertussis and bronchitis . The German 

Commission E approved internal use for treating 

symptoms of bronchitis, whooping cough and catarrh 

of the upper respiratory tract . () Thyme is used 

in various combinations with anise oil, eucalyptus oil, 

fennel oil, fennel fruit, Iceland moss, lime flower, 

liquorice root, marshmallow root, primrose root and 

star anise fruit for catarrh and diseases of the upper 

respiratory tract . (W) 

Dosage 

Dried herb 1-4g or by infusion three times daily ; (G7) 

1-2 g . (G3,G52) 

Liquid Extract of Thyme (BPC 1949) 0 .6-4 .0 mL . 

Elixir of Thyme (BPC 1949) 4-8 mL . 

Tincture 2-6mL (1 :5 in 45% alcohol) three times 

daily, (G7) four drops . (G3,GS2) 

Pharmacological Actions 

In vitro and animal studies 

Antitussive, expectorant and antispasmodic actions 

are considered to be the major pharmacological 

properties of thyme, (1) and have been associated 

with the volatile oils (e .g . thymol, carvacrol) and 

flavonoid constituents . Thyme oil has produced hyporensive 

and respiratory stimulant effects in rabbits 

following oral or intramuscular administration, and 

in cats following intravenous injection ; (G41) an 

increase in rhythmic heart contraction was also 

observed in rabbits . (G41 ) Hypotensive activity in rats 

has been reported for Thymus orospedanus ; this 

action was attributed to adrenaline (epinephrine) 

anragonism . (2) 

462

Thyme 463 

In vitro antispasmodic activity of thyme and 

related Thymus species has been asociated with the 

phenolic components of the volatile oil(3) and with the 

flavonoid constituents ; their mode of action is thought 

to involve calcium-channel blockage .( 1,4,5) The flavonoids 

thymonin, circilineol and 8-methoxycircilineol 

have potent spasmolytic activity in guinea pig trachea 

preparations in vi tro . (G52) 

Analgesic and antipyretic properties in mice have 

been reported for a thyme extract . (6) 

Thymol poseses anthelmintic (especially hookworms), 

antibacterial, and antifungal properties . 

(G41) 

The antibacterial activity of thymol and thyme oil 

have been reviewed . (GS ') Thymol, carvacrol and 

thyme oil have antifungal activity against a range of 

organisms . (G50) 

Thyme oil inhibits prostaglandin synthesis ; rosmarinic 

acid has anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting 

complement in rats and some of the functions 

of polymorphonucleocytes . (G52) 

Rosmarinic acid 

reduced oedema produced by cobra venom factor in 

rats, and inhibited pasive cutaneous anaphylaxis and 

impairment of in vivo activation of mouse macrophages 

by heat killed Corynebacterium parvum . ( GS2) 

Activity may relate to complement inactivation . (GSO) 

Clinical studies 

Generally, well-designed clinical studies asesing the 

effects of thyme are lacking . A randomised, doubleblind, 

controlled trial involving 60 patients with 

productive cough compared syrup of thyme and 

bromhexine over a five-day period . Both groups 

were similar in self-reported symptom relief . (G5S0 

Thyme oil has been used for the treatment of 

(G44) 

enuresis in children . 

Side-effects, Toxicity (G58) 

Thyme oil is a dermal and mucous membrane irritant 

. (G58) Toxic symptoms documented for thymol 

include nausea, vomiting, gastric pain, headache, 

dizzines, convulsions, coma, and cardiac and respiratory 

arrest . (G22) Thymol is present in some toothpaste 

preparations, and has been reported to cause cheilitis 

and glositis . Hyperaemia and severe inflammation 

have been described for thyme oil used in bath 

preparations . (G31) 

A concentrated extract of thyme decreased locomotor 

activity and caused a slight slowing down of 

respiration in mice following oral administration of 

doses of 0 .5-3 .0g/kg, equivalent to 4 .3-26 .0g dried 

plant material .( G52) In rats, oral LD 50 values stated for 

thyme oil include 2 .84 g/kg(G57) and 4 .7 g/kg in rats, 

and >Sg/kg following dermal administration ." ) In 

mice, oral administration of a concentrated ethanol 

extract of herb in subacute toxicity tests resulted in 

increased weights of liver and testes . Also in mice, a 

dose of 0 .9 g daily for three months resulted in 

mortality rates of 30% and 10% in males and 

females, respectively. Thyme oil had no mutagenic 

or DNA-damaging activity in either the Ames test or 

Bacillus subtilis rec-asay . (G52) 

Contra-indications, Warnings 

Thyme oil is toxic and should be used with considerable 

caution . It should not be taken internally and only 

applied externally if diluted in a suitable carrier oil . 

Pregnancy anti lactation There are no known problems 

with the use of thyme during pregnancy and 

lactation, provided that doses do not greatly exceed 

the amounts used in foods . Traditionally, thyme is 

reputed to affect the menstrual cycle and, therefore, 

large amounts should not be ingested . 

Pharmaceutical Comment 

Thyme is commonly used as a culinary herb and is 

characterised by its volatile oil . Documented pharmacological 

actions support some of the traditional 

medicinal uses, which have been principally attributed 

to the volatile oil and flavonoid constituents . 

However, the oil is also toxic and should not be 

ingested and only applied externally if diluted in a 

suitable carrier oil . It has been suggested that standardised 

thyme extracts based on the phenolic volatile 

components may not be appropriate because antispasmodic 

actions previously attributed to these compounds 

may be attributable to other constituents . (3) 

References 

See also General References G2, G3, G5, G9, Gll, 

G15, G22, G28, G31, G36, G37, G41, G43, G50, 

G51, G52, G58, G63 and G64 . 

1 Van Den Broucke CO . The therapeutic value of 

Thymus species. Fitoterapia 1983 ; 4 : 171-174 . 

2 Jimenez j et a!. Hypotensive activity of Thyrntis 

orospedanus alcoholic extract. Phytother Res 1988 ; 

2:152-153 . 

3 Van Den Broucke CO, Lernli JA . Pharmacological 

and chemical investigation of thyme liquid extracts . 

Planta Med 1981 ; 41 : 129-13S . 

4 Cruz T et a!. The spasmolytic activity of the 

esential oil of Thymus baeticits Bois in rats . 

Phytother Res 1989 ; 3 : 106-108 . 

5 Blizquez MA et al . Effects of Thymtts species 

extracts on rat duodenum isolated smooth muscle 

contraction . Phytother Res 1989 ; 3 : 41-42 .

464 Thyme 

6 Mohsin A et al. Analgesic, antipyretic activity and 1989 ; 60 : 174 . 

phytochemical screening of some plants used in 7 Opdy e DLJ . Thyme oil, red . Food Cosmet 

traditional Arab system of medicine . Fitoterapia Toxicol 1974 ; 12 : 1003-1004 .

Thymus vulgaris L., Thymus zygis L. (Labiatae) Common Thyme ...

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