The anti-parasitic activity of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme): A literature review

Zuhair DARDONA 1, Mounia AMANE 2, *, Ayman DARDONA 3 and Samia BOUSSAA 4

1 Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment Laboratory (BioMAgE), Research Unit Labelled CNRST N°4, 2 Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
2 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Technical Health Occupations, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Marrakech, Morocco.
3 Department of Botany, University Science of Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
4 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Technical Health Occupations, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, Morocco.
 
Review
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 11(01), 2243–2258.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.1.0302
Publication history: 
Received on 06 January 2024; revised on 16 February 2024; accepted on 19 February 2024
 
Abstract: 
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an enduring herb belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It originates from the Mediterranean region and is characterized by its small, aromatic leaves, and sturdy stem. Appreciated for its robust and delightful scent, thyme is widely embraced as a culinary herb. However, its significance extends far beyond the kitchen, as it has been utilized medicinally for centuries. This is owing to the occurrence of active compounds like thymol and carvacrol, which possess noteworthy antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory attributes. Throughout history, thyme has been employed in the treatment of respiratory disorders, digestive ailments, and other diseases. The main objective of this study was to conduct an extensive review of the thyme plant, encompassing its classification, historical background, geographical distribution, chemical composition, and both economic and medicinal applications, particularly emphasizing its antiparasitic properties. In conclusion, apart from its well-known culinary and medicinal uses, scientific research has indicated that thyme exhibits promising effectiveness against diverse parasites. Notably, research has shown that thyme exhibited antiprotozoal activity against protozoan parasites such as Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, and others. Specific thyme extract components have shown great activity against these parasites. Thyme also has larvicidal properties, meaning that it can kill larvae. This includes Anisakis larvae, which can cause anisakiasis in humans. Thyme essential oil has been shown to effectively eliminate these larvae, suggesting that it could be used to prevent anisakiasis. Furthermore, it has also been studied for its potential to treat hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. Research has shown that thyme oil, along with Moringa oleifera oil, can effectively reduce the number of oocysts shed by infected rabbits and improve the clinical signs of the infection. This suggests that thyme oil may be a promising therapeutic agent for tackling hepatic coccidiosis.
 
Keywords: 
Thyme; Thymus vulgaris; Lamiaceae; Anti-Parasitic; Medicinal use; Chemical constituents
 
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