Invited Short Lecture “Bioavailability of thymol as a natural feed additive in humans and animals”

Herbal remedies historically represent the first pharmacological compounds used in the treatment of many diseases. Despite being considered safer than synthetic drugs, food and drug interactions must be extensively evaluated in terms of their absorption, excretion, distribution and metabolism. Plants containing thymol have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. To understand the bioavailability of thymol in animal organisms and to establish the suitable concentration for beneficial effects on animal health, its metabolic path needs to be understood at the molecular level. Oral bioavailability represents the fraction of administered thymol reaching the systemic circulation and is a key parameter that affects its efficacy. Therefore, to propose an appropriate dose, the study of thymol oral bioavailability has received significant attention. Information concerning the bioactivity of thymol and its metabolites in animal organisms could also be applied to human medicine and may help in the utilization of herbal medicine in humans and in veterinary healthcare. However, relatively few studies on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of thymol are available to date. According to our knowledge from the current literature, thymol metabolites, mostly thymol sulphate and glucuronide, were detected in the plasma and urine of humans and in the plasma, intestinal content, faeces and tissues in rats, pigs, chickens, horses and rabbits. To precisely understand the metabolic processes and biological activity of thymol and its metabolites within organisms, more clinical studies are necessary, with preclinical comprehensive research on animal models.

Funding VEGA 2/0009/20

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023