Thymus pulegioides L. as a rich source of antioxidant, anti-proliferative and neuroprotective phenolic compounds

Food Funct. 2018 Jul 17;9(7):3617-3629. doi: 10.1039/c8fo00456k.

Abstract

The potential of Thymus pulegioides L. as an alternative and valuable source of functional ingredients has been assessed. For this purpose, the phenolic constituent profiles and the antioxidant, anti-proliferative, neuroprotective, anti-aging and anti-diabetic activities of both T. pulegioides aqueous decoctions (AD) and hydro-ethanolic extracts (HE) were studied and compared for the first time. Rosmarinic acid was the main phenolic compound, accounting for 35.2% or 47.8% of total identified phenols in AD or HE, respectively (58.5 and 151.9 mg g-1 extract). Furthermore, large amounts of luteolin-O-hexuronide (AD: 39.9 ± 2.5 mg g-1, HE: 60.8 ± 7.0 mg g-1), eriodictyol-O-hexuronide (AD: 19.9 ± 2.5 mg g-1, HE: 26.8 ± 7.0 mg g-1) and chrysoeriol hexoside (AD: 23.5 ± 0.7 mg g-1, HE: 16.0 ± 0.7 mg g-1) were found. Both extracts showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity and anti-proliferative activity against Caco-2 cells (IC50 82.25 μg mL-1 and 105.44 μg mL-1, AD and HE, respectively), and reduced hepatotoxicity (HepG2 cells). In general, both T. pulegioides extracts showed poor anti-diabetic activity, moderate anti-aging effects and high neuroprotective activity with both AD and HE extracts, at 0.5 mg mL-1, showing 80% inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase activity and 94% inhibition of the tyrosinase activity. The present study highlights the important potential of this herb as a functional food ingredient.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry
  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / isolation & purification
  • Phenols / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Thymus Plant / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts
  • Acetylcholinesterase