Thymol is a phenolic compound with multiple pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antineurodegenerative and antirheumatic activities[1]. Thymol is a transient receptor potential ankyrin subtype 1 channel (TRPA1) agonist[2]. Thymol can show significant activity against bacteria, fungi and parasites by destroying microbial cell membranes, inhibiting enzyme activity and interfering with energy metabolism[3].
In vitro, Thymol (0-150μM) treatment of bladder cancer cells (T24, SW780, J82 cells) and non-malignant urothelial cells (SV-HUC-1 cells) for 0-36h inhibited cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase[4]. Thymol (5μM) treatment of A549 cells for 48h inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and motility of cells[5].
In vivo, oral administration of Thymol (400mg/kg) to treat pleurisy model rats significantly inhibited inflammatory edema and reduced the amount of pleuritic exudate by 34.2%[6]. Thymol (5mg/kg) was treated by intraperitoneal injection in male albino mice and reduced the mitotic index (MI) of mouse bone marrow cells[7].
References:
[1] Aljelehawy Q H A, Mohammadi S, Mohamadian E, et al. Antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antineurodegenerative, and antirheumatic activities of thymol: clarification of mechanisms[J]. Micro Nano Bio Aspects, 2023, 2(1): 1-7.
[2] De La Chapa J J, Singha P K, Lee D R, et al. Thymol inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma growth via mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis[J]. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, 2018, 47(7): 674-682.
[3] Nourbakhsh F, Lotfalizadeh M, Badpeyma M, et al. From plants to antimicrobials: Natural products against bacterial membranes[J]. Phytotherapy Research, 2022, 36(1): 33-52.
[4] Li Y, Wen J, Du C, et al. Thymol inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis[J]. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2017, 491(2): 530-536.
[5] Li T, Shi J, Wang L, et al. Thymol targeting interleukin 4 induced 1 expression reshapes the immune microenvironment to sensitize the immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma[J]. MedComm, 2023, 4(5): e355.
[6] Fachini-Queiroz F C, Kummer R, Estevao-Silva C F, et al. Effects of thymol and carvacrol, constituents of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil, on the inflammatory response[J]. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 2012(1): 657026.
[7] Abed R M. Cytotoxic, cytogenetics and immunomodulatory effects of thymol from Thymus vulgaris on cancer and normal cell lines in vitro and in vivo[J]. Al-Mustansiriyah J Sci, 2011, 22(4): 41-53.