Exploring the Biochemical and Nutra-Pharmaceutical Prospects of Some Thymus Species - A Review.

Farooq Anwar, Rahim Khan, Rahman Qadir, Sami Saadi, Eliza Gruczynska-Sekowska, Nazamid Saari, Fatema Hossain Brishti

Journal: Chemistry & biodiversity 2024;21(7):e202400500

PMID: 38719739

Abstract

The Thymus genus includes various medicinal and aromatic species, cultivated worldwide for their unique medicinal and economic value. Besides, their conventional use as a culinary flavoring agent, Thymus species are well-known for their diverse biological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-hypertensive properties. Hence, they are used in the treatment of fever, colds, and digestive and cardiovascular diseases. The pharmaceutical significance of Thymus plants is due to their high levels of bioactive components such as natural terpenoid phenol derivatives (p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol, geraniol), flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids. This review examines the phytochemicals, biological properties, functional food, and nutraceutical attributes of some important Thymus species, with a specific focus on their potential uses in the nutra-pharmaceutical industries. Furthermore, the review provides an insight into the mechanisms of biological activities of key phytochemicals of Thymus species exploring their potential for the development of novel natural drugs.

Address: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.; Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan.; Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan.; Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.; Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.; Institute de la Nutrition, de l'Alimentation et des Technologies Agroalimetaires INATAA, Universitédes Frères Mentouri Constantine 1, Route de Ain El Bey-Constantine, Algeria.; Laboratoire de Génie Agro-Alimentaire (GeniAAl), INATAA, Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 UFC1, Route de Ain, El Bey-Constantine, Algeria.; Institute of Food Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159 C, PL-02-776, Warsaw, Poland.

DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400500

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https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202400500

MeSH Terms: Thymus Plant, Humans, Dietary Supplements, Phytochemicals, Antioxidants