Chemical composition and biological activities of nine essential oils obtained from Algerian plants.

The essential oils (EOs) from nine species (Artemisia campestris, A. herba-alba, Juniperus foetidissima, Laurus nobilis, Mentha pulegium, M. spicata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Thymus vulgaris) of the Algerian flora have been hydrodistilled, analysed, and tested for their antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. A. campestris EO showed a higher content of terpene hydrocarbons; A. herba-alba EO was mainly rich in their oxygenated derivatives. Sesquiterpenes were the most abundant compounds in J. foetidissima EO, while oxygenated monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids prevailed in L. nobilis EO. The other EOs were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, with quality-quantitative differences. T. vulgaris and L. nobilis performed better in all the antioxidant assays, respectively with IC50 values ranging from 0.0002 and 0.0012 mg/mL in the CUPRAC assay to 2.83 and 3.50 mg/mL in the FRAP assay. T. vulgaris was also the only EO exhibiting an antiproliferative activity towards the human breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines.

Antibiofilm and antibacterial activities of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles against Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. Syringae: in vitro and in silico investigations.

Today, many infections in plants are related to biofilm-developing bacteria. These infections can result in severe agricultural losses. Thus, this study aims to investigate the synergistic antibiofilm activity of Thymus vulgaris extract on the inherent antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles against Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Additionally, to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of phytocompounds' antibacterial activity, the molecular interactions of T. vulgaris phytochemicals with the TolC protein and TonB-dependent siderophore receptor were investigated through in-silico studies. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs (ZnO@GS) and chemically synthesized ZnO (ZnO@CHS) were evaluated using XRD and SEM techniques, showing a crystalline structure for both powders with average sizes of 50, and 40 nm, respectively. According to FT-IR and EDS spectroscopy, ZnO@GS was covered with thyme extract. Based on the in vitro results, all samples of ZnO NPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against both bacteria. At the same time, thyme aqueous extract alone proved considerably less effective at all tested concentrations. Compared to ZnO@CHS and thyme extract, the antibacterial efficacy of ZnO@GS against E. amylovora (MIC = 512 µg/mL) and P. syringae pv. syringae (MIC = 256 µg/mL) was significantly improved upon surface covering with thyme phytocompounds. Moreover, their antibiofilm properties were enhanced by almost 20 % compared to ZnO@CHS. In addition, molecular docking investigations showed that most of the phytocompounds could form stable interactions with the TonB-dependent siderophore receptor (P. syringae) plug domain and the TolC (E. amylovora) external channel. In vitro and in silico studies demonstrate that using the green approach for synthesizing ZnO NPs via thyme extract can notably boost its antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on the tested phytopathogenic bacteria.

Isolation, characterization and antimicrobial activity study of Thymus vulgaris.

Herbal medicines are important for ensuring sustainable development goals (SDGs) in healthcare, particularly in developing countries with high rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and little access to medical facilities. Thymus vulgaris is a widely used herbal medicinal plant known for its secondary metabolites and antimicrobial properties. The present study involved a comprehensive examination of the isolation, characterization, and antibacterial activity of Thymus vulgaris obtained from Ethiopia. The aerial part of the plant Thymus vulgaris was successively extracted with hexane, chloroform, and methanol based on differences in polarity. Phytochemical screening tests conducted against hexane, chloroform and MeOH crude extracts indicated the presence of some secondary metabolites. Based on the thin-layer chromatography tests, the chloroform extract was subjected to column chromatography, yielding Tv-2 compounds, namely 5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol. The structures of the compounds were elucidated via spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis, FT-IR and NMR). We investigated the antibacterial properties of hexane crude extract, chloroform crude extract, MeOH crude extract, and isolated fractions derived from T. vulgaris against various bacterial strains. This study contributes to a better understanding of the bioactive components present in Thymus vulgaris crude extracts and their potential role in tackling microbial infections.

Microbial and physicochemical changes in green bell peppers treated with ultrasonic-assisted washing in combination with Thymus vulgaris essential oil nanocapsules.

In this study, the effect of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TVO) nanoemulsion (NE, 500 mg/L) in combination with ultrasound (ultrasound-NE) on the microbial and physiological quality of green bell pepper was investigated. The TVO-NE droplet size and zeta potential were 84.26 nm and - 0.77 mV, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the TVO and TVO-NE against E. coli and S. aureus were about 0.07 and 7 g/L, respectively. The NE-ultrasound treatment exhibited the lowest peroxidase activity and respiration rate with no detrimental effect on texture, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, pH, and TSS. Although the NE-ultrasound treatment showed the highest weight loss and electrolytic leakage, it exhibited the best visual color and appearance. The NE-ultrasound treatment descended the total viable/mold and yeast counts significantly compared to control. Results showed that treating the bell peppers with NE-ultrasound can result in bell peppers with good postharvest quality and extended shelf life.

In Vitro Virucidal Activity of Different Essential Oils against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Used as Surrogate of Human Hepatitis C Virus.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major hepatotropic virus that affects humans with increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes abortion, calf mortality and poor reproductive performance in cattle. Due the difficulties of in vitro cultivation for HCV, BVDV has been used as surrogate for in vitro assessment of the efficacy of antivirals. Essential oils (EOs) display antiviral and virucidal activity on several viral pathogens. In this study, the virucidal activity of five EOs, Salvia officinalis L. EO (SEO), Melissa officinalis L. EO (MEO), Citrus lemon EO (LEO), Rosmarinus officinalis L. EO (REO) and Thymus vulgaris L. EO (TEO) against BVDV was evaluated in vitro at different concentrations for several time contacts. MEO and LEO were able to considerably inactivate BVDV with a time- and dose-dependent fashion. MEO and LEO at the highest concentrations decreased viral titer by 2.00 and 2.25 log10 TCID50/50 µL at 8 h contact time, respectively. SEO, REO and TEO displayed mild virucidal activity at the highest concentrations for 8 h contact times. In this study, the virucidal efficacies of MEO and LEO against BVDV were observed regardless of compound concentration and contact time. Further studies are needed to confirm the potential use of MEO and LEO as surface disinfectants.

Application of essential oils as natural antimicrobials in lactic acid bacteria contaminating fermentation for the production of organic cachaça.

Sugarcane-based fermentation is an essential process for different sectors of economic importance, such as the food industry with fermented and distilled beverages. However, this process can suffer from high contamination by wild yeasts and bacteria, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This makes it necessary to use decontamination strategies and search for new methods that have a low environmental impact and contribute to the production of organic products. Among the options, oregano and thyme essential oils stand out for their antibacterial compounds. The aim of this study was to use oregano and thyme essential oils as natural antimicrobials in the alcoholic fermentation of sugar cane juice. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the essential oils in the fermentation was assessed through turbidity in the sensitivity test, which allowed us to determine which concentrations of essential oils would inhibit the contaminants, 3 morphologically selected LAB strains, as well as assessing the viability of CA-11. For LAB, 3 concentrations of each essential oil were tested, ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 µl/mL, while for CA-11 it was 0.06, to 0.1 µl/mL. The results indicated a maximum total value of essential oils per ml of 0.06 µl. Based on this result, a 24-1 fractional factorial was established, with 8 conditions +3 central points, with 4 variables, oregano essential oil (0, 0.03 and 0.06 µl/ml), thyme (0, 0.03 and 0.06 µl/ml), initial soluble solids (14, 16 and 18°Brix) and initial yeast concentration (2.5, 3 and 3.5 g/l), with the temperature set at 32 °C for a period of 12 h. The results showed that the center point condition with 0.03 µl/ml of oregano EO, 0.03 µl/ml of thyme controlled the proliferation of contaminating bacteria compared to the control condition. In the experimental validation, the treatment with essential oils had a lower final population of LAB (5.95 log) than the final population of the control treatment (6.53 log), and it was also observed that the treatment with EOs had an alcohol production around 3 % higher than the treatment without antimicrobials. The experimental validation phase confirmed the synergistic action of oregano and thyme essential oils in controlling the proliferation of contaminating bacteria. In conclusion, it was possible to determine the synergistic antimicrobial action of essential oils against LAB during alcoholic fermentation based on organic sugar cane.

Effect of Light Conditions, Trichoderma Fungi and Food Polymers on Growth and Profile of Biologically Active Compounds in Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum.

The research investigates the influence of different lighting conditions and soil treatments, in particular the application of food polymers separately and in combination with spores of Trichoderma consortium, on the growth and development of herbs-Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum. The metabolic analysis focuses on detecting changes in the levels of biologically active compounds such as chlorophyll a and b, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds (including flavonoids), terpenoids, and volatile organic compounds with potential health-promoting properties. By investigating these factors, the study aims to provide insights into how environmental conditions affect the growth and chemical composition of selected plants and to shed light on potential strategies for optimising the cultivation of these herbs for the improved quality and production of bioactive compounds. Under the influence of additional lighting, the growth of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum seedlings was greatly accelerated, resulting in an increase in shoot biomass and length, and in the case of T. vulgaris, an increase in carotenoid and anthocyanin contents. Regarding secondary metabolites, the most pronounced changes were observed in total antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content, which increased significantly under the influence of additional lighting. The simultaneous or separate application of Trichoderma and food polymers resulted in an increase in flavonoid content in the leaves of both Thymus species. The increase in terpenoid content under supplemental light appears to be related to the presence of Trichoderma spores as well as food polymers added to the soil. However, the nature of these changes depends on the thyme species. Volatile compounds were analysed using an electronic nose (E-nose). Eight volatile compounds (VOCs) were tentatively identified in the vapours of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum: α-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene; 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol. Tendencies to increase the percentage of thymol and γ-terpinene under supplemental lighting were observed. The results also demonstrate a positive effect of food polymers and, to a lesser extent, Trichoderma fungi on the synthesis of VOCs with health-promoting properties. The effect of Trichoderma and food polymers on individual VOCs was positive in some cases for thymol and γ-terpinene.

Exploring low-dose gamma radiation effects on monoterpene biosynthesis in Thymus vulgaris: insights into plant defense mechanisms.

Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as thyme, is a plant renowned for producing monoterpenes. This study aimed to understand the effects of low-dose gamma radiation, specifically in the range of 1-5 Gy, on various traits of Thymus vulgaris, providing context on its importance in agricultural and medicinal applications. The research explored morpho-physiological, biochemical, and gene-expression responses in thyme plants under no gamma- and gamma-ray exposure conditions. The study revealed complex relationships between gamma-ray doses and plant characteristics. In particular, shoot and root lengths initially increased with low doses (1-3 Gy) but decreased at higher doses (5 Gy), suggesting a dose-dependent threshold effect. Similarly, shoot and root fresh weights displayed an initial increase followed by a decline with increasing doses. Biochemical parameters showed dose-dependent responses, with low to moderate doses (1-3 Gy) stimulating enzyme activities and high doses (5 Gy) inhibiting them. Gene expression analysis was focused on the following specific genes: thymol synthase, γ-terpinene synthase, and carvacrol synthase. Low to moderate doses increased the expression of these genes, resulting in increased production of bioactive compounds. However, higher doses had diminished effects or suppressed gene expression. Metabolite analysis demonstrated dose-dependent responses, with moderate doses enhancing secondary metabolite production, while higher doses provided limited benefits. These findings underscore the implications of using gamma radiation to enhance secondary metabolite production in plants and its potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. The study emphasizes the potential of gamma radiation as an external stressor to influence plant responses and highlights the importance of understanding such effects in various fields.

Chitosan-Loaded Lagenaria siceraria and Thymus vulgaris Potentiate Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Activities against Extensive Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches.

Antimicrobial resistance poses considerable issues for current clinical care, so the modified use of antimicrobial agents and public health initiatives, coupled with new antimicrobial approaches, may help to minimize the impact of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in the future. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of Lagenaria siceraria, Thymus vulgaris, and their chitosan nanocomposites against extensive drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The in vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa and VRSA strains revealed 100% sensitivity to imipenem (100%). All P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to cefoxitin, cefepime, trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole, and fosfomycin. However, S. aureus strains showed a full resistance to cefoxitin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and fosfomycin (100% each). Interestingly, all S. aureus strains were vancomycin-resistant (MIC = 32-512 µg/mL), and 90% of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains were XDR. The antimicrobial potential of Lagenaria siceraria and Thymus vulgaris nanocomposites with chitosan nanoparticles demonstrated marked inhibitory activities against XDR P. aeruginosa and VRSA strains with inhibition zones' diameters up to 50 mm and MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 1 µg/mL and 1 to 8 µg/mL, respectively. The results of the in vivo approach in male Sprague Dawley rats revealed that infection with P. aeruginosa and S. aureus displayed significant changes in biochemical, hematological, and histopathological findings compared to the negative control group. These values returned to the normal range after treatment by chitosan nanoparticles, either loaded with Lagenaria siceraria or Thymus vulgaris. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) findings presented significant upregulation of the relative expression of the IL10 gene and downregulation of the IFNG gene throughout the experimental period, especially after treatment with chitosan nanoparticles loaded either with Lagenaria siceraria or Thymus vulgaris in comparison to the positive control groups. In conclusion, this is the first report suggesting the use of Lagenaria siceraria and Thymus vulgaris nanocomposites with chitosan nanoparticles as a promising contender for combating XDR P. aeruginosa and VRSA infections as well as a manager for inflammatory situations and oxidative stress-related disorders.

Investigating the effects of Thymus vulgaris essential oil, Allium cepa extract, and their active compounds (thymol and quercetin) on expression profile of genes related to Alzheimer's disease in PC12 model cell.

Thymus vulgaris and Allium cepa are plants with great medicinal importance. Thymol monoterpene and quercetin, which are present in these plants, have anti-Alzheimer's and antioxidant effects. The objectives of this research were investigating the effects of these compounds on the pathogenesis and progress of Alzheimer's disease in cells modeled by formaldehyde. MTT, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR were used to investigate the toxicity, survival rate and apoptosis of the cells, and the expression level of PP2A, GSK3, NMDAR, BACE1, and APP genes, respectively. Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells was measured. The results showed that the two compounds as well as the plants extract and essential oil were able to increase the percentage of cell survival; among them, Thymus vulgaris essential oil had the greatest effect (93.55316 % in 48 h exposure). In addition, quercetin was able to reduce the rate of apoptosis in Alzheimer's cells (4.73 %) which was greater than the effects of other compounds. In general, the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris compared to thymol; and quercetin compared to Allium cepa extract showed more improving effects on the expression of genes involved in the disease. All four compounds increased the antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells compared to the control group, and these effects were almost equal between the compounds. According to the obtained results, both plants, especially Thymus vulgaris can be proposed as candidates to be included in the diet of Alzheimer's patients. In addition, polyphenols thymol and quercetin as derivates from the studied plants can be used in new drugs development for Alzheimer's disease, with greater safety than currently used drugs. These results are significant because most of the drug for Alzheimer's treatments such as cholinesterases (e.g. rivastigmine and donepezil) and memantine are chemically based and have many side effects.

Application of the thermal death time model in predicting thermal damage accumulation in plants.

The thermal death time (TDT) model suggests that the duration for which an organism can tolerate thermal stress decreases exponentially as the intensity of the temperature becomes more extreme. This model has been used to predict damage accumulation in ectothermic animals and plants under fluctuating thermal conditions. However, the critical assumption of the TDT model, which is additive damage accumulation, remains unverified for plants. We assessed thermal damage in Thymus vulgaris under different heat and cold treatments, and used TDT models to predict time to thermal failure of PSII. Additionally, thermal tolerance estimates from previous studies were used to create TDT models to assess the applicability of this framework in plants. We show that thermal damage is additive between 44 °C and 47 °C and between -6.5 °C and -8 °C, and that the TDT model can predict damage accumulation at both temperature extremes. Data from previous studies indicate a broad applicability of this approach across plant species and traits. The TDT framework reveals a thermal tolerance landscape describing the relationship between exposure duration, stress intensity, and percentage damage accumulation. The extreme thermal sensitivity of plants emphasizes that even a 1 °C increase in future extreme temperatures could impact their mortality and distribution.

Growth enhancement, metabolic profile improvement, and DXR and TPS2 gene expression changes in Thymus vulgaris L. by cyanobacterial inoculation.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades cyanobacterial species have attracted research attention as potential sources of new biostimulants. In this study, the biostimulant effects of five cyanobacterial suspensions on the growth and essential oil composition of Thymus vulgaris L. were evaluated. The expression of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of thymol and carvacrol, such as DXR and TPS2, were investigated. RESULTS: A pot culture experiment revealed that cyanobacterial application significantly improved T. vulgaris L. growth indices, including plant height, dry and fresh weight, leaf and flower number, leaf area, and photosynthetic pigment content. Total phenol and flavonoid content in inoculated plants also showed a significant increase compared with the control. Anabaena torulosa ISB213 inoculation significantly increased root and shoot biomass by about 65.38% and 92.98% compared with the control, respectively. Nostoc calcicola ISB215 inoculation resulted in the highest amount of essential oil accumulation (18.08 ± 0.62) in T. vulgaris leaves, by about 72.19% compared with the control (10.5 ± 0.50%). Interestingly, the amount of limonene in the Nostoc ellipsosporum ISB217 treatment (1.67%) increased significantly compared with the control and other treatments. The highest expression rates of DXR and TPS2 genes were observed in the treatment of N. ellipsosporum ISB217, with 5.92-fold and 5.22-fold increases over the control, respectively. CONCLUSION: This research revealed the potential of the cyanobacteria that were studied as promising biostimulants to increase the production of biomass and secondary metabolites of T. vulgaris L., which could be a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thymus vulgaris ameliorates cough in children with asthma exacerbation: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases with inflammatory involvement and has a high burden worldwide. This study aimed to determine the effect of Thymus vulgaris (TV) on cough in children between 5 and 12 years old with mild to moderate asthma exacerbation. METHODS: In this randomized, triple-blind clinical trial, 60 children between the ages of 5 and 12 with asthma exacerbations were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 30) was given TV powder at a dose of 20 mg/kg every 8 hours, prepared as syrup, along with routine medical treatment for a week, and the control group (n = 30) received only routine medical treatment with placebo syrup. At the end of the week, clinical and laboratory symptoms, and spirometry data were re-recorded for both groups. Finally, the recorded factors were compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that after the intervention, activity-induced cough reduced, and difference was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.042), but the reduction in wheezing and breathlessness had no statistically significant difference. Spirometry data showed a significant difference in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between the two groups after intervention (p = 0.048), but this difference was not significant in FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of the vital capacity (FEF25-75%). CONCLUSION: The results show that TV syrup may be useful as an adjuvant treatment in children with asthma exacerbations.

The toxicological analysis of lead impurities in traditional herbal medicinal product with Thymi herba (Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.) from pharmacies in Poland: the impurity profile and comprehensive toxicological risk assessment.

Traditional herbal medicinal products (THMP) with Thymi herba (Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus zygis L.) are very popular among the European population. The idea of our study was the toxicological analysis of lead impurities in THMP with Thymi herba obtained from Polish pharmacies. For this purpose, we prepared the impurity profiles and comprehensive toxicological risk assessment. The Pb impurity profiles show lead impurities in all samples investigated (in the range: 2.15-6.99 µg/L). The estimations of Pb impurities in the single dose (32.25-105.01 ng/single dose) and in the daily dose (64.50-210.00 ng/day) were based on the posology recommended by the manufacturers. All the results obtained meet the standards of the ICH Q3D (R1) guideline on elemental impurities according to the levels of Pb. It can be concluded that all investigated THMPs with Thymi herba available in Poland should not represent any health risk to adults.

Effects of light spectra on morphological characteristics, primary and specialized metabolites of Thymus vulgaris L.

Light is a crucial environmental factor that profoundly influences the growth and development of plants. However, the precise mechanisms by which light affects biochemical processes and growth and development factors in Thymus vulgaris remain unknown, necessitating further investigation. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the impact of different light spectra, including red, blue, red-blue, and white lights, on the morphological characteristics, primary, and specialized metabolites of T. vulgaris. Compared to white light, red light significantly increased leaf area (by 64 %), the number of branches (by 132 %), and dry weight (by 6.2 %), although a 40 % reduction in fresh weight was observed under red light conditions. Red-blue light notably enhanced canopy width, fresh weight, and dry weight. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the plant's essential oil (EO) revealed that p-Cymene and γ-Terpinene were present at the highest levels. Notably, p-Cymene exhibited the highest concentrations under white light and blue light treatments, reaching 60.92 % and 59.53 %, respectively. Moreover, under the same light conditions, phenol and antioxidant levels were significantly elevated. Overall, these findings indicate that red and red-blue light spectra are the most favorable for thyme production.

Chemical Composition of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Extracts, Potential Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-ACE2 Binding and ACE2 Activity, and Radical Scavenging Capacity.

Water and ethanol extracts of dried thyme (Thymus vulgaris) were analyzed for chemical composition, inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 interaction, inhibition of ACE2 activity, and free radical scavenging capacity. Thirty-two compounds were identified in water extract (WE) and 27 were identified in ethanol extract (EE) of thyme through HPLC-MS. The WE (33.3 mg/mL) and EE (3.3 mg/mL) of thyme inhibited the spike protein-ACE2 interaction by 82.6 and 86.4%, respectively. The thyme WE at 5 mg/mL inhibited ACE2 activity by 99%, and the EE at 5 mg/mL inhibited ACE2 by 65.8%. Total phenolics were determined to be 38.9 and 8.8 mg of GAE/g in WE and EE, respectively. The HO• scavenging capacities were 1121.1 and 284.4 µmol of TE/g in WE and EE, respectively. The relative DPPH• scavenging capacities were 126.3 µmol TE/g in WE and 28.2 µmol TE/g in EE. The ABTS•+ scavenging capacities were 267.1 µmol TE/g in WE and 96.7 µmol TE/g in EE. The results suggested that the thyme extract could be potentially used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigate the complications from the infection.

Thyme Extract Alleviates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Gut Dysfunction.

Prolonged intake of a high-fat diet (HFD) disturbs the composition of gut microbiota, contributing to the development of metabolic diseases, notably obesity and increased intestinal permeability. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), an aromatic plant, is known for its several therapeutic properties. In this study, we explored the potential of thyme extract (TLE) to mitigate HFD-induced metabolic derangements and improve the gut environment. Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were administered 50 or 100 mg/kg TLE for eight weeks. Administration of 100 mg/kg TLE resulted in decreased weight gain and body fat percentage, alongside the regulation of serum biomarkers linked to obesity induced by a HFD. Moreover, TLE enhanced intestinal barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins and ameliorated colon shortening. TLE also altered the levels of various metabolites. Especially, when compared with a HFD, it was confirmed that 2-hydroxypalmitic acid and 3-indoleacrylic acid returned to normal levels after TLE treatment. Additionally, we investigated the correlation between fecal metabolites and metabolic parameters; deoxycholic acid displayed a positive correlation with most parameters, except for colon length. In contrast, hypoxanthine was negatively correlated with most parameters. These results suggest a promising role for thyme in ameliorating obesity and related gut conditions associated with a HFD.

Antimicrobial efficacy of Thymus vulgaris extract against some Staphylococcus species isolated from subclinical mastitis in cattle in Basrah province, Iraq.

Background: Thymus vulgaris extracts can play a significant role as alternatives for antimicrobial agents against bovine staphylococcus mastitis. Aim: This research's goal was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of an extract from T. vulgaris as an alternative to antibiotics for bovine Staphylococcus mastitis. In addition, it is important to know the effect of the extraction methods (hot alcoholic, cold alcoholic, and hot water extract) on their effectiveness. Methods: Two hundred ten cow milk samples from different areas of Basrah province had been suffering subclinical mastitis reported by using the California mastitis test (CMT). Staphylococcus species were identified by conventional microbiological technique, GP24 Kit, and nuc gene. Antimicrobial activity of various concentrations of T. vulgaris extracted (75, 50, 25) mg/ml with different methods of extraction (hot alcoholic, cold alcoholic, and hot water extract). Results: Out of 210 samples, 99 (47.1%) were positive for the CMT, and the identification rate of Staphylococci spp. by conventional microbiological technique and GP24 kit was 78 (78.8%). Out of 78 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. 48 (61.5%) were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, by using both molecular techniques using PCR and miniaturized Kit GP24 and employing the miniature GP24, the remaining 30 (38.5%) were determined to be different species of Staphylococcus. Antibacterial activity of various concentrations of T. vulgaris extracted (75, 50, 25) mg/ml with different methods of extraction revealed that hot alcoholic extract (100%) was more effective than cold alcoholic extract (66.7%), whereas there is no effect on the bacteria species with the hot water extract. Conclusion: Thymus vulgaris extracts can play a significant role as alternatives for antimicrobial agents against bovine staphylococcus mastitis.

Thymus Vulgaris Oil Nanoemulsion: Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities.

Essential oil nanoemulsions have received much attention due to their biological activities. Thus, a thyme essential oil nanoemulsion (Th-nanoemulsion) was prepared using a safe and eco-friendly method. DLS and TEM were used to characterize the prepared Th-nanoemulsion. Our findings showed that the nanoemulsion was spherical and ranged in size from 20 to 55.2 nm. The micro-broth dilution experiment was used to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of a Th-emulsion and the Th-nanoemulsion. The MIC50 values of the thymol nanoemulsion were 62.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca, 250 mg/mL against Bacillus cereus, and 125 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. Meanwhile, it emerged that the MIC50 values of thymol against four strains were not detected. Moreover, the Th-nanoemulsion exhibited promising antifungal activity toward A. brasiliensis and A. fumigatus, where inhibition zones and MIC50 were 20.5 ± 1.32 and 26.4 ± 1.34 mm, and 12.5 and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, the Th-nanoemulsion displayed weak antifungal activity toward C. albicans where the inhibition zone was 12.0 ± 0.90 and MIC was 50 mg/mL. Also, the Th-emulsion exhibited antifungal activity, but lower than that of the Th-nanoemulsion, toward all the tested fungal strains, where MIC was in the range of 12.5-50 mg/mL. The in vitro anticancer effects of Taxol, Th-emulsion, and Th-nanoemulsion were evaluated using the standard MTT method against breast cancer (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). Additionally, the concentration of VEGFR-2 was measured, and the activities of caspase-8 (casp-8) and caspase-9 (casp-9) were evaluated. The cytotoxic effect was the most potent against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line after the Th-nanoemulsion treatment (20.1 ± 0.85 µg/mL), and was 125.1 ± 5.29 µg/mL after the Th-emulsion treatment. The lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value, 20.1 ± 0.85 µg/mL, was achieved when the MCF-7 cell line was treated with the Th-nanoemulsion. In addition, Th-nanoemulsion treatments on MCF-7 cells led to the highest elevations in casp-8 and casp-9 activities (0.66 ± 0.042 ng/mL and 17.8 ± 0.39 pg/mL, respectively) compared to those with Th-emulsion treatments. In comparison to that with the Th-emulsion (0.982 0.017 ng/mL), the VEGFR-2 concentration was lower with the Th-nanoemulsion treatment (0.672 ± 0.019ng/mL). In conclusion, the Th-nanoemulsion was successfully prepared and appeared in nanoform with a spherical shape according to DLS and TEM, and also exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, as well as anticancer activities.

The effect of induced polyploidy on phytochemistry, cellular organelles and the expression of genes involved in thymol and carvacrol biosynthetic pathway in thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

Induced polyploidy usually results in larger vegetative and reproductive plant organs. In order to study the effect of chromosome doubling on Thymus vulgaris, three levels of colchicine concentration including 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% (w/v) were applied for 6, 12 and 24 hours on apical meristem of 2- and 4-leaf seedlings. Ploidy level was evaluated by flow cytometry and microscopic chromosome counting. Chemical composition of essential oils extracted by hydro-distillation was analyzed by gas Chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas Chromatography (GC). The application of 0.3% colchicine at 4-leaf seedling for 6 hours resulted in the highest survival rate and the highest number of tetraploid plants. Cytogenetic and flow cytometry analyses confirmed the increase of chromosome number from 2n=2x=30 in diploids to 2n=4x=60 in induced tetraploids. Tetraploid plants had larger leaves, taller and thicker stems, dense branching, longer trichome, larger stomata, larger guard cells, and decreased number of stomata. The number of chloroplasts and mitochondria increased significantly in tetraploid plants by 1.66 and 1.63 times, respectively. The expression of CYP71D178, CYP71D180 and CYP71D181 increased in tetraploids by 3.27, 7.39 and 2.15 times, respectively, probably resulting in higher essential oil compounds, as tetraploids outyielded the diploid plants by 64.7% in essential oil, 40.9% in thymol and 18.6% in carvacrol content.