title: Essential Oils from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Chemical Composition and Biological Effects in Mouse Model.
abstract: Thymus species are popular spices and contain volatile oils as main chemical constituents. Recently, plant-derived essential oils are gaining significant attention due to their significant biological activities. Seven different thymus-derived essential oils were compared in our study. First, we focused on their chemical composition, which was followed up by testing their effects on phagocytosis, cytokine production, chemotaxis, edema inhibition, and liver protection. We found limited biological activities among tested oils, with no correlation between composition and biological effects. Similarly, no oils were effective in every reaction. Based on our data, the tested biological use of these essential oils is questionable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Louisville , Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vetvicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Louisville , Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vetvickova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride
keywords: cytokines essential oils; hepatotoxicity; immunity; phagocytosis; thyme