Ersoy_2025_Front.Nutr_12_1675586

Thymus canoviridis, an endemic species in Trkiye, was studied for its chemical composition and biological activities, with emphasis on food-related applications. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from aerial parts revealed an exceptionally high carvacrol content (99.9%), highlighting its potential as a natural preservative. LC-MS/MS profiling of ethanol extracts (aerial and root) identified rosmarinic acid as the dominant phenolic (885.53 +/- 7.25 microg/g in aerial part; 721.08 +/- 6.14 microg/g in root), along with notable levels of apigenin and quinic acid. The aerial extract showed higher total phenolic (114.39 +/- 1.86 mg PEs/g) and flavonoid contents (47.80 +/- 0.94 mg QE/g) than the root extract. In vitro antioxidant assays revealed strong activity for both extracts: the root was more active in DPPH (IC(50): 24.32 +/- 0.84 microg/mL) and CUPRAC (A(0.5): 9.99 +/- 0.02 microg/mL), while the aerial part extract was superior in ABTS (IC(50): 8.36 +/- 0.05 microg/mL). The essential oil exhibited outstanding ABTS (IC(50): 0.43 +/- 0.02 microg/mL) and CUPRAC (A(0.5): 3.36 +/- 0.07 microg/mL) activity. Enzyme inhibition assays showed strong alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC(50): 683.35 +/- 3.75 microg/mL) by the oil and selective butyrylcholinesterase inhibition (69.61 +/- 1.84% at 200 microg/mL). Antimicrobial tests demonstrated significant activity against Candida tropicalis (MIC: 19.53 microg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 39.06 microg/mL). Taken together, T. canoviridis represents a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and enzyme-inhibitory properties suitable for functional food and clean-label preservation applications.