Thyme as a herbal drug – pharmacopoeias and other product characteristics

Abstract

Traditional medicine has been using thyme for many centuries. In the past the plants were collected in the countryside and only the herb collectors were responsible for the quality of the herbs, which differed considerably. Nowadays, in modern phytotherapy, increasing requirements concerning the safety of drugs must be fulfilled. The current status of drugs, including herbal drugs, has to take into consideration various legal regulations so that the products can obtain the “drug status” and be sold in the pharmaceutical market according to the Medicines Acts of European and other countries. An increased use of herbal medicines requires a thorough evaluation of the quality, overall safety and effectiveness of phytomedicines.