Thyme real

Plant species from the thyme genus (Thymus) within the labiate family (Lamiaceae). Thyme is used as a medicinal and aromatic plant (see alsothyme oil). Thymus vulgaris is a semi-shrub with short-stemmed, narrowly elliptical leaves. It grows to a height of 10 to 40 centimeters. The small white to pink flowers sit at the ends of the branches and bloom from May to October. Thymus vulgaris produces spherical nut-shaped fruits that ripen from September to October. The original home of true thyme is the western European Mediterranean region. It is also found in the wild along the southern border of the Alps and in south-western Switzerland. It is cultivated in several places in Germany.

Its antiseptic effect was used in ancient Egypt for embalming corpses.

Food: Thyme is used as a seasoning plant, especially for meat dishes and sauces, particularly in Mediterranean cuisine, and also to flavor herbal liqueurs.

The herb of the plant (thyme - thymi herba) and the essential oil (thyme oil - thymi aetheroleum) are used phytotherapeutically.

Cosmetics industry: Thymus vulgaris extract (INCI),Thymus vulgaris flower/leaf extract (INCI)

s.a. Thymus wild

Phytomedicine:

• Thymi herba: Thymus vulgaris is the parent plant of Thymi herba, the official extract of fresh thyme leaves and flowers monographed by Commission E and ESCOP.
• Thymi aetheroleum, thyme oil, refers to the officinal essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the fresh, flowering herb.
• Folia thymi refers to the cut and dried thyme leaves.

Cosmetics (INCI nomenclature):

• Thymus vulgaris extract (INCI): Drug from the leaves and flowers of Thmus vulgaris
• Thymus vulgaris flower/leaf extract (INCI): drug from the leaves and flowers of Thymus vulgaris
• Thymus vulgaris oil: essential oil obtained from the fresh or partially dried leaves and flowering tops by steam distillation.

Thyme essential oil contains varying amounts and concentrations of myrcene, geraniol, linalool, alpha-terpineol, trans-thujanol-4-terpineol-4, thymoland carvacrol (isomer of thymol), depending on the source material.

Thyme oil has an antibacterial and antiviral effect, but there are no clinical studies on its effectiveness.

Thyme is used as a spice plant, both fresh and dried. So in soups, with versch. Fish and meat dishes.

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3. Radaelli M et al. (2016) Antimicrobial activities of six essential oils commonly used as condiments in Brazil against Clostridium perfringens. Braz J Microbiol 47:424-430.
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