CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND CANCER
CHEMOPREVENTIVE EFFECT OF VOLATILE
OIL ISOLATED FROM THYMUS PULEGIOIDES L.
VALERIA RĂDULESCU1*, MARIA MONICA NISTOROIU2,
MARIETA ELENA PANAIT2, DIANA-CAROLINA ILIEŞ1,
EUGENIA TIRIFON2
1Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of
Pharmacy, Department of Organic Chemistry, 6 Traian Vuia St.,
Bucharest 020956, Romania
2Al. Trestioreanu Institute of Oncology, 252 Fundeni Ave., Bucharest
022338, Romania
*corresponding author: valeria_radulescu@yahoo.com
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Abstract:

Thymus species have been used for centuries as a folk remedy against cancer. The aim of the present study is to highlight some of the molecular mechanisms involved in the anticancer properties of Thymus pulegioides L. The experiments were performed on male Wistar rats, using the volatile oil from Thymus pulegioides L. The modifications of cytochrome b5 content, cytochromes P450 content and activity, glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase activity and glutathione (GSH) content were evaluated. GC-MS (gas cromatography - mass spectrometry) analysis showed that the main components of Thymus volatile oil were: carvacrol 17.92%, thymol 4.37% and germacrene D 9.84%. The positive effects of Thymus volatile oil could be seen in modifications of the tumors volume and the immune response. An increase was determined in the activity of phase II enzymes, GST and DT-diaphorase, with 75% and 120% respectively. The most remarkable result of this study is the difference in the macroscopic aspects of the tumors, following the administration of Thymus volatile oil, which could recommend it as a chemopreventive agent.

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