Abstract
Thymol, chemically known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol is a colorless crystalline monoterpene phenol. It is one of the most important dietary constituents in thyme species. For centuries, it has been used in traditional medicine and has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antitumor activities. The present article presents a detailed review of the scientific literature which reveals the pharmacological properties of thymol and its multiple therapeutic actions against various cardiovascular, neurological, rheumatological, gastrointestinal, metabolic and malignant diseases at both biochemical and molecular levels. The noteworthy effects of thymol are largely attributed to its anti-inflammatory (via inhibiting recruitment of cytokines and chemokines), antioxidant (via scavenging of free radicals, enhancing the endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and chelation of metal ions), antihyperlipidemic (via increasing the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreasing the levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the circulation and membrane stabilization) (via maintaining ionic homeostasis) effects. This review presents an overview of the current in vitro and in vivo data supporting thymol’s therapeutic activity and the challenges concerning its use for prevention and its therapeutic value as a dietary supplement or as a pharmacological agent or as an adjuvant along with current therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. It is one of the potential candidates of natural origin that has shown promising therapeutic potential, pharmacological properties and molecular mechanisms as well as pharmacokinetic properties for the pharmaceutical development of thymol.
Highlights
Extensive epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested the health benefits of medicinal herbs as well as their constituents against various human ailments (Sofowora et al, 2013)
The Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians have used thyme as a preservative, odorant and flavoring agent in foods. It is a small subshrub abundantly used as a traditional medicine in the western Mediterranean region and its leaves are often used as herbal medicinal products and food additives (Zarzuelo and Crespo, 2002)
According to the report of Kohlert et al (2002), after the intake of one Bronchipret R TP tablet that is equivalent to 1.08 mg of thymol, the plasma concentrations of thymol metabolites were detectable after 20 min
Summary
Extensive epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested the health benefits of medicinal herbs as well as their constituents against various human ailments (Sofowora et al, 2013). Oregano, thyme, olives and dates, to name a few, have been used extensively for culinary purposes in diets and are believed to possess beneficial effects against numerous diseases (Rahmani et al, 2014) Among these spices, the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians have used thyme as a preservative, odorant and flavoring agent in foods. Due to its potent antimicrobial properties, thymol is frequently used in dentistry for the treatment of oral cavity infections (Maruniak et al, 1992; Shapiro and Guggenheim, 1995; Twetman et al, 1995; Ogaard et al, 1997; Khan et al, 2017) These pharmacological properties of thymol are ascribed to the pharmacophore of the phenolic hydroxyl group in its chemical structure. Thist review aims to reveal the various pharmacological activities and therapeutic potential of thymol as well as prospects for its pharmaceutical development followed by its mechanism of action demonstrated in both in vivo and in vitro studies
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