Antioxidant activity of decoction, infusion and methanolic extract of cultivated thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)
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abstract
Thymus vulgaris L. (commonly known as thyme) is a perennial subshrub, widely cultivated around the world and belonging to the Lamiaceae (lipped) family. The use of thyme, for various purposes, is a very old tradition and remains until now. In ancient times, it was used both for medicinal
purposes and for cooking or magical properties [1,2]. Therefore, in face of the historical
descriptions, it is conceived that the use of this plant have multiple health benefits, at different
levels, and that many of the responsible components for those effects have not yet been
discovered. Much more research is still need in order to prove all the potential effects of this plant.
In the present work, flowering aerial parts (leaves and flowers, separated of branches), previously
dried supplied for Soria Natural (Garray - Soria, Spain), were prepared (decoction, infusion and
hydroalcoholic extract) and submitted to evaluation and comparison of the antioxidant properties.
Four different in vitro assays were performed: scavenging effects on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-
picrylhydrazyl) radicals, reducing power (measured by ferricyanide Prussian blue assay), inhibition
of β-carotene bleaching and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain cell homogenates by TBARS
(thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) assay. In general, all the preparations revealed antioxidant
potential measured by the different assays. Decoction preparation showed higher potential in
DPPH and reducing power assays (EC50 values 112.3 and 100.7 μg/mL, respectively), while
infusion revealed higher potential in TBARS assays (7.1 μg/mL). Concerning the hydroalcoholic
extract, the results were only higher in β-carotene bleaching test (31.5 μg/mL). According to the
obtained results, it is possible to conclude that the use of infusions and decoctions of thyme, as
complementary of daily food, could provide considerable benefits for health, not only in the
treatment of related diseases to reactive species production and oxidative stress, but also
prevention of aging and cellular damage [3]. These benefits conferred by thyme can be achieved
by both internal and external use. Other studies confirm the high antioxidant activity of thyme
samples from Croatia and Egypt [4,5] and that its use, at the recommended doses, is safe and no
adverse reactions have been described. Nevertheless, further experiments are required in order to
explore the mechanisms of action involved.
