Effects of a Food Supplement with a Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Extract on Gut Health and the Microbiome in Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Based on the scientific and traditional knowledge, benefits for gut and digestive health were expected from Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) extract (WThE) consumption, but no controlled human studies were performed yet to prove the proposed health benefits. Method: The aim of this human randomized, double-blind parallel arm pilot study was to explore the impact of aqueous Wild Thyme extract, a food supplement, in a healthy but overweight study collective (N = 40). In detail, the impact on digestion, gastrointestinal symptoms, gut microbiome, and quality of life by employing an essential oil-free WThE preparation or a matching placebo was investigated. Results: The study results indicate that WThE has the potential to improve gastrointestinal symptoms and increase stool frequency, thus an improved quality of life was observed. The stool microbiome of study collective was characterized by a high Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. A decrease in the mean Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was seen in WThE group. Conclusion: The data support the potential applications of WThE as a food supplement with benefits on gut health.

Effects of crude thymus gland extract on some physiological and biochemical parameters in local rabbits

In the present study,36 local rabbits of different ages were divided into two groups:18 infants and 18 adult rabbits of both sexes were used.Each group of rabbits were subdivided randomly into two subgroups(control and treated).Treated groups,received intraperitoneally calf thymus extract obtained from abattoir and homogenized with 0.15M NaCl,centrifuged and the supernatant was Millipore filtrated and stored at-20ºC and used in a dose of 0.25 mL/kg body weight daily for two weeks.Control groups received similar doses of normal saline intraperitoneally.Data obtained from each treated group were compared to those of the control group.Thirty days after the last injection,animals were anesthetized and blood samples were collected for biochemical,hematological investigations.Animals treated with crude thymus extract showed significant decreases in RBC,Hb and PCV.Blood indices(MCV and MCHC)also showed significant decreases in treated adults.Leukocyte count and the percentage of lymphocytes showed highly significant decrease in both treated groups,crude extract seems to induce immunosup-pressive action through anti proliferative properties.Biochemical parameters showed high significant decrease of serum albumin level in the treated adult group but no changes were observed in the infant group,while total protein markedly decreased only in treated adult,which could be explained on the base of decreased negative acute protein and increased catabolism of proteins in the liver.Changes in the lipid profile showed significant increase in triglyceride,VLDL,and LDL level,while HDL level was decreased in both treated groups.Changes in the HDL composition which is expected and decrease of antioxidant lead to increase in free radicals which induced LDL and VLDL oxidation and initiation of atherosclerosis.In all treated groups highly significant increase of AST,ALT and ALP activation were obvious as a result of liver cell damages.