Family : Lamiacae; Labiatae
English Name : Thyme
Indian Name : Banajwain (Hindi), Thyme (Kannada)
Species : Thymus vulgaris Linn.; T. satureioides Coss; t. serpyllum L.; T.zygus L.
Distribution : India, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain, USA
Uses : Cosmetics, culinary purposs, drugs, insecticides, perfumery
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Thyme (Thymus uulgaris Linn.), commonly called 'Common Thyme' or 'Garden Thyme', belonging to the family Lamiaceae; Labiatae is an important herb spice used by man since ancient times. The thyme herb contains—moisture-7.1%, protein-6.8%, fat-4.6%, crude fibre-24.3%, carbohydrates-44.0%, mineral matter-13.2%, calcium-2.1%, phosphorus-0.20%, iron-0.14%, (mg/ 100 g), sodium-0.08%, potassium-0.9%, vitamin-A-175 IU, vitamin-B1-51 mg, vitamin B2-0.4 mg, vitamin-C-12.0 mg, and niacin-4.9 mg, calorific value-340 calories. On distillation, the herb yields the Red Thyme oil of commerce.
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Apart from oil, the other constituents of thyme are triterpinaoid saponins, flavones, ursolic acid (1.5% in tops), caffeic acid, bitter principle, tannins and resins. In addition, there are several other wild species which yield volatile oil. They are T serpyllum L., T zygus L. (white thyme) and T satureioides Coss and Bal. Thymol, linalool and linalyl acetate are the major compounds present in T.zygus and T serpyllum. T zygus and its var. gracitis are also the source for genuine thyme oil. While, thymol, burneol and a-terpineol are the major componds in T satureioides, the oil called the 'oil of thyme' in commerce is a colourless, yellow or red liquid, having a characteristic pleasant odour, and a pungent taste. The composition and also the quality of the oil is reported to vary in different geographical areas.
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The concentration of the active principle (Thymol) is high (60%) in Spanish oil and is low (20-35%) in French and Moroccon oils, whereas carvacrol is present in minor amounts. The oil also contains amylalcohol, p-y-hexanol, an unidentified terpene with a carrot-like odour, P-pinene, camphene, P-cymene, a-terpinene, linaloo1,1-borneol, geraniol, caryophyllene, an unidentified sesquiterpene and a sesquiterpinic alcohol, 4-terpineol and trans-4-thujanol. The other additional components present in traces are sabinene, verbenene, 1- octen-3-ol, methyl thymol, verbenone, a-muurolen, 8-cadinene and P-cymen-8-ol.
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The seeds yield 37% of a drying oil which contains mainly linolenic, lindeic and oleic acids. In addition, hydroxy linolenic acid is also present. It is one of the very frequently used spices, in the fresh or dried form, for several European delicacies. The leaves and flowers find use as food flavourants and in the seasoning of various food items, especially fish and meat preparations and for garnishing. Medicinally, the leaves are said to possess laxative, stomachic and tonic properties, good for the kidney and eye and are blood purifiers.
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The herb also has an insect-repellent property. It is also used in perfumery and in liquor distillery. The dried leaves and floral tops constituting the thyme of commerce, is known as Thymi Herba in pharmacy, which contains not more than 3% of stems over 1 mm in diameter and 2% of other organic matter and yields 4% acid insoluble ash. The shoot extracts of flowering thyme plants have anti-bacterial action against Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and Escherichia coil. The herb, which has a pungent taste, is reported to possess antiseptic, antihelmintic, expectorant, carminative, diuretic, alexiteric, emmenogogue and sedative properties; it is good for liver complaints, pain in the spleen, liver or chest; it is useful in cold, asthma and bronchitis. It thins the phlegm and blood.
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Thyme oil has antiseptic, antispasmodic and carminative properties. It is used in mouth-washes and gargles. Formulations containing thyme oil are available for the treatment of whooping cough and bronchitis. The oil is used as a diffusible stimulant in cases of collapse. It is mixed with olive oil and is used as a rubefacient and counter-irritant. It is also used in veterinary medicine. Thyme oil is used in soaps, perfumes and for flavouring food products such as meat, sausages, sauces and canned food. The oil has antifungal and antihelmintic properties and is used as an intestinal antiseptic in treating hookworms. It is also used as a cure for many fungal infections of the skin. The seeds are given as vermifuge. The infusion of the seeds is also used in skin eruptions or diseases. The seed oil has a potential use as a superior drying oil. The plant can be grown for ornamental edging along the paths in gardens, and is also suitable for rockeries.
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