Pharmacognosy with the Basics of Plant Biochemistry - Kovalyov V. M. 2004

Special Part
Essential Oils
Medicinal plants and raw materials containing cymene derivatives

CREEPING THYME HERB — HERBA SERPYLLI

Creeping thyme — Thymus serpyllum L., fam. Lamiaceae

Wild thyme, creeping thyme; the Latinized name comes from thymos — spirit, courage, and strength, referring to its stimulating and strengthening properties; another possible origin is from the Ancient Egyptian word tham, the name of an aromatic plant. Serpyllum derives from the Greek name of this plant, herpyllos, which is connected with the verb herpo — to crawl.

Plant description. A low (10–35 cm high), fragrant, creeping subshrub that forms small mats. Branches are upright, four-angled, with flowering stems puberescent with hairs beneath the inflorescence. Leaves are small, opposite, petiolate, elliptic, entire, up to 1.5 cm long, Ciliate from the base to the middle, with inconspicuous punctate glands on the underside containing essential oil. Flowers are bilabiate, pinkish-purple, very aromatic, gathered in false whorls at the stem tips.

Distribution. It grows along forest edges, on slopes, in pine and mixed light forests throughout Polissia and the forest-steppe zone.

Harvesting. The herb is harvested during the flowering period by cutting the upper herbaceous shoots with a knife or sickle, leaving behind the lower woody stems. They should not be pulled up by hand, as this rips the plant out by the roots, leading to the destruction of the thickets. The collected herb is dried in the shade in the open air, spread in a thin layer on paper or fabric. After drying, the herb is threshed, and then the flowers and leaves are separated from the stems using a sieve.

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Chemical composition of the raw material. Thyme herb contains essential oil (1.5%), which includes thymol, carvacrol, cymene, a- and ß-pinene, y-terpinene, a-terpineol, borneol, and other terpenoids. The raw material also contains Flavonoids, Tannins, bitter principles, gum, triterpene acids (ursolic and oleanolic), and mineral salts.

Biological activity and application. An infusion and fluid extract of creeping thyme exhibit expectorant, antibacterial, spasmolytic, and analgesic effects; they have a calming effect on the Central Nervous system and stimulate gastric juice secretion. Thyme is a component of medications such as Pertussin and Anitos.

GARDEN THYME HERB — HERBA THYMI VULGARIS

GARDEN THYME ESSENTIAL OIL — OLEUM THYMI

Garden thyme — Thymus vulgaris L., fam. Lamiaceae

Common thyme. Plant description. A small subshrub (up to 50 cm high). The stem is erect or ascending, highly branched, woody at the base; herbaceous branches are thin, four-angled, and grayish-pubescent. Leaves are small (5-10 mm long), opposite, short-petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, grayish, densely pubescent, entire, with punctate glands and downward-rolled margins, and very fragrant. Flowers are small, irregular, in axillary whorls. The fruit consists of four one-seeded nut-likelets.

Distribution. Native to the western Regions of the Mediterranean. Cultivated as an essential oil crop in southern Ukraine.

Harvesting. Fresh (for essential oil extraction) or dried garden thyme herb is used. Harvesting is carried out in two stages: the first cut is during the period of mass flowering of the plant, and the second is a month and a half before the end of the growing season. The mown herb is dried, threshed, and then the flowers and leaves are separated from the stems using a sieve.

Chemical COMPOSITION OF THE raw material. Garden thyme herb contains essential oil (1-2%), which includes thymol (20-60%), carvacrol, n-cymene, monoterpenoids, and the sesquiterpene caryophyllene.

Important groups of BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES (BAS) include flavonoids (luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, luteolin-7-diglucoside), triterpene compounds (ursolic and oleanolic acids), and phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, quinic).

Biological activity and application. Thymol, a potent antiseptic, is obtained from garden thyme essential oil and is used for Oral Cavity disinfection, the Treatment of fungal Skin infections, and in dental practice. It is a component of Kamistad gel. Internally, thymol is prescribed as an antiseptic for diarrhea and flatulence to reduce intestinal Fermentation, and as an anthelmintic agent. The herb extract is included in Pertussin, Efcamon, and Pinosol.

OREGANO HERB — HERBA ОRIGANІ

Wild oregano — Origanum vulgаre L., fam. Lamiaceae

Wild marjoram, oregano; origanum is a Latinized Greek name for the plant, oreiganon from oros — mountain, ganos — brightness; Lat. vulgaris, -e — common.

A perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is erect or ascending, four-angled, branched, up to 90 cm high. Leaves are petiolate, opposite, oblong-ovate, entire or remotely minutely dentate, obtuse or acute, up to 5 mm long; green on top, pale green underneath. Flowers are small, irregular, bisexual or pistillate, located singly in the axils, forming a corymbose-paniculate inflorescence. Flowers are up to 5 mm long; the calyx is regular, bell-shaped, five-toothed, violet; the corolla is indistinctly bilabiate, lilac-pink, rarely whitish, with a notched apex and a three-lobed lower lip. The entire plant is aromatic.

Distribution. It grows throughout Ukraine in sparse coniferous and birch forests, along forest edges, among shrubs, and on steppe and stony slopes.

Harvesting and Processing. The herb is harvested during full bloom in July and August by cutting the aerial parts 20–30 cm above the ground. It is dried outdoors in the shade or in an attic; the dried herb is then threshed to remove coarse stems.

Chemical composition of the raw material. The herb contains essential oil (1.2%), the main constituents of which are carvacrol and thymol, with their combined content reaching up to 44%. Monoterpene alcohols, geranyl acetate, sesquiterpenes, and Other Compounds have also been identified. Phenolic Compounds are present as well, including flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin Glycosides), tannins, and ascorbic acid.

Biological activity and Applications. An infusion of the herb exerts a calming effect on the central nervous system, enhances the secretion of digestive, bronchial, and Sweat Glands, increases peristalsis, as well as the tone of the intestines and uterine smooth Muscle, stimulates Bile secretion, promotes diuresis, and regulates the Menstrual cycle; it also exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. Oregano extract is a component of Urolesan, which is used as a litholytic agent.

In homeopathy, the fresh flowering plant is used as a sedative; it stimulates the secretion of digestive, bronchial, and sweat glands, and increases the tone of the intestines, uterine musculature, and Gallbladder.