Thymus vulgaris L.: Thyme

Abstract

Thymus vulgaris L., garden thyme, has a long history of use by humans. This perennial semi-evergreen shrub is used today as an aromatic plant to flavor food liqueurs and herb blends and as a medicinal plant for its antimicrobial and antioxidative properties to treat various diseases such as bronchitis and gastrointestinal distress. T. vulgaris is also employed in cosmetics to prepare products for hair and skin care. In this chapter, we first present the taxonomy, the origin, the distribution and the cytology of T. vulgaris. Then, we describe the economical use of the garden thyme and the chemical diversity of its multiple chemotypes. The phytochemical profile of T. vulgaris, especially monoterpenes present in its essential oil, varies not only based on the genotype but also according in response to abiotic factors such as location, elevation, cultural practices, harvest time, drying methods and storage conditions. Finally, we give an overview of the methods employed in T. vulgaris breeding programs in Germany, Switzerland and France and provide a list of major cultivars of T. vulgaris currently used for commercial production.