Structure and Activity of New Deodorant Biphenyl Compounds from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Two new biphenyls, 3,4,3’,4’-tetrahydroxy-5,5’-diisopropyl-2,2’-dimethylbiphenyl (4a) and 3,4,4'-trihydroxy-5,5'-diisopropyl-2,2'-dimethylbiphenyl (5), were isolated from the leaves of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. Both biphenyls 4a and 5 showed more effective deodorant activity against methyl mercaptan than did rosmanol, carnosol or sodium copper chlorophylline. © 1989, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.