Chemical warfare (CW) agents are toxic synthetic chemicals that affect human’s health, and sulfur mustard (SM) is a well-known chemical weapon that caused deaths of victims. The lung is the main target of SM exposure, and there are no definitive therapeutic modalities for lung injury induced by this agent. The possible therapeutic effects of medicinal plants and their active ingredients on lung injury induced by SM were reviewed in this article until the end of June 2021. Medicinal plants including Crocus sativus, Curcuma longa, Thymus vulgaris, Nigella sativa, and Zataria multiflora and also natural compounds showed therapeutic potential in improving of various features of lung injury induced by SM and other related chemical agents. Several studies showed therapeutic effects of some medicinal plants and natural products on lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses in experimental studies in SM-induced lung injury. In addition, clinical studies also showed the effect of medicinal plants and natural compounds on respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and inflammatory markers. The therapeutic effects of medicinal plants and natural products on lung disorder induced by SM and related chemical agents were shown through amelioration of various features of lung injury.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible ameliorative role of Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) essential oil against Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) deleterious effects in both blood and different tissues of rats by assessing the hematological, biochemical and immune-inflammatory parameters besides the histopathological alterations in the different organs. Forty male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups as follows: group I served as control, group II orally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at a dose of 1.0 × 10⁹ cfu/ml, group III orally received 250 mg/kg BW T. vulgaris oil daily for 7 days and group IV orally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 as the same dose of group II and orally received T. vulgaris oil as the same dose and duration of group III. Bacterial challenge in groups II and IV was once at the beginning of experiment and administration of oil began after 72 h from bacterial inoculation. At the end of the study, blood was sampled and complete blood picture, liver and kidney function alongside immunoglobulins and cytokines concentrations were estimated and tissues of large intestine (colon), liver and kidneys were collected for histopathological examinations. The results revealed that there was an increase of red blood cells count, hematocrit value and hemoglobin concentration besides white blood cells and thrombocytes counts and substantial increment of serum markers of hepatorenal damage such as the activities of transaminases and concentrations of bilirubin (total, direct and indirect), total proteins, albumin, creatinine and urea in E. coli O157:H7-challenged group. Also, there was a considerable increase in serum immunoglobulins M and G, interleukin 6 and 8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha as well as decreased serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Moreover, T. vulgaris oil could partially improve the hematological, biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by E. coli O157:H7 without any significant alterations in all measured parameters when used alone. The study concluded that the T. vulgaris oil relatively diminished the alterations in hematological parameters, hepatic and renal function markers and immune-inflammatory variables alongside the histopathological changes in different organs induced by E. coli O157:H7. The ameliorative effects of T. vulgaris oil are mediated through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities.

Improving poultry production, increasing poultry immunity, and reducing the disease spreading can be achieved by adding various potentially valuable ingredients to the feed or drinking water of poultry flocks. Because of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in animal nutrition were prohibited. Additionally, consumer preferences tend towards purchasing products from livestock raised without antibiotics. Therefore, there is a critical need to find effective growth promoter alternatives and treatment methods for common poultry diseases. Some spice plants play important roles in improving the taste, aroma, and color of human food and their positive effects on human and animal health. The current review aimed to provide a broader perspective on some spice crops which can be effective alternatives to antibiotics in organic poultry production. These spices were including Thymus vulgaris, Cichorium intybus, Coriandrum sativum, Aloe vera, Heracleum persicum, Curcuma longa, and Glycyrrhiza glabra.

Thiamethoxam (TMX) is a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide for its effective potential for controlling insects from the agricultural field, which might induce toxicity to the aquatic biota. In this study, the role of the probiotic Bacillus subtilis (BS) and a phytogenic oil extract of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TVEO) in the modulation of thiamethoxam (TMX)-induced hepatorenal damage, oxidative stress, and immunotoxicity in African catfish (Clarias garipenus) has been evaluated. Fish were subjected to TMX (5 mg L⁻¹) and fed with a diet either supplemented with BS (1000 ppm) or TVEO (500 ppm). The experiment lasted for 1 month. By the end of the experiment, blood was sampled for biochemical analysis and fish organs and tissues were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Results showed a substantial increase of serum markers of hepatorenal damage such as the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine with an obvious decrease of serum protein levels in the TMX-intoxicated group. Also, there was a considerable increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. TMX remarkably suppressed serum lysozyme activity, respiratory burst activity, and phagocytosis with a conspicuous elevation of the levels of interleukins (interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 IL-6). The histopathological findings showed that TMX induced degenerative changes and necrosis in the gills, liver, head kidneys, and spleen of the intoxicated fish. Significant alterations of frequency, size, and area percentage of melanomacrophage centers (MMCs), decreased splenocyte proliferation, and increased number of caspase-3 immunopositive cells were also observed. Contrariwise, the concurrent supplementation of either BS or TVEO in the diets of catfish partially mitigated both the histopathological and histomorphometric lesions of the examined tissues. Correspondingly, they improved the counts of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 immunopositive splenocytes. In conclusion, the co-administration of either BS or TVEO in catfish diets partially diminished the toxic impacts of TMX. Nonetheless, the inclusion of TVEO in the diets of catfish elicited better protection than BS against TMX-induced toxicity in response to its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and immune-stimulant effects.

This study was conducted in an attempt to evaluate the impact of thyme powder supplementation on broiler diets with respect to cytokine and mucin2 gene expressions. It was also our aim to evaluate the growth performance, blood biochemical and hematological profiles, and economic efficiency of the diet. A total of 120 1-day old chicks (Cobb 500) were divided into four groups on the basis of the diet. One group received a basal diet (control) while the others received a basal diet supplemented with 2, 5, or 8 g/kg of thyme powder. At 42 days of age, the chickens were weighed and euthanized, and then blood and tissue samples were collected for the purpose of analysis. Results obtained clearly indicated that thyme supplementation of the diet, especially at 5 g/kg, resulted in a significant increase in body weight and caused the increased body weight gain and feed intake (P ˂ 0.05) as well as augmented WBC and lymphocyte count and IgG and NO levels (P ˂ 0.001). The economic evaluation showed that birds fed on 8 g/kg thyme yielded the lowest net revenue and highest feed cost to produce 1 kg of live weight compared to the other treatments, while birds fed on 2 and 5 g/kg thyme did not differ significantly from values obtained for the controls. The lipid profile of the broilers was affected by thyme supplementation at 2 and 5 g/kg as represented by a significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels as well as low density lipoprotein levels, which is known to be associated with a corresponding increase in high-density lipoprotein (P ˂ 0.001). Furthermore, supplementation of thyme downregulated the pro-inflammatory mediators and increased the expression of mucin2 mRNA in the jejunum of chickens. It can be concluded that thyme supplementation in the diet of broilers at 5 g/kg has the potential to favorably influence productive performance via an improvement in the immune status of the broiler.

The domestic and industrial sewage contains an extensive range of various organic compounds. Due to the toxicity of these materials, their degradation is considered one of the great environmental challenges. To address this problem, SnO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a green route, and they were used as an efficient catalyst for the degradation of an organic dye. In the stage of synthesis of nanoparticles, Thymus vulgaris L. extract acted as an efficient capping agent and renewable reducing agent, and SnO₂ NPs were synthesized without addition of any hazardous surfactants. The successful synthesis of SnO₂ NPs was confirmed by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDX, and TEM. The photocatalytic performance of SnO₂ NPs was examined for the degradation of eriochrome black-T (ECBT) as a toxic organic dye in aqueous medium under ultraviolet irradiation. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) model was carried out to study of the effects of three different operational parameters on degradation of ECBT. In this design, initial pH of solution (3–11), reaction time (0.5–4 h), and the catalyst loading (0.05–0.12 g) were selected as three factors, whereas the degradation efficiency was chosen as the response. The results of the experimental design indicated that initial pH and catalyst loading were highly significant factors, whereas the reaction time was less important than other factors. Also, recyclability of catalyst was investigated, and the obtained results showed that SnO₂ NPs could be easily recovered and reused for at least 4 cycles without any significant decrease in their activity.

The Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) has been used in foods for the flavor, aroma, and preservation and in folk medicines. The objective of the present work was to determine the antioxidant and protective effects of T. vulgaris extract against lead (Pb)-intoxicated rats. A thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups and treated for six weeks as follows: group I (GP-I), served as negative control; GP-II, -III, and -IV received either Pb acetate in drinking water (500 mg/L), T. vulgaris extract (500 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage or Pb acetate with T. vulgaris extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected at the end of the study week 6 to measure the hepatic and renal biochemical markers, complete blood count alongside the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Additionally, liver and kidney tissue specimens were collected for histopathology as well as to measure the antioxidant-reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) alongside the lipid peroxidation marker, malonaldehyde (MDA). The results indicated that Pb toxicity increased the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, whereas IL-10 and IFN-γ were reduced. The results showed disturbed liver and renal functions; increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, creatinine, and urea; and decreased total protein, albumin, and calcium. The GSH, Gpx, and CAT levels were significantly decreased in the Pb-administrated group, while MDA was increased. However, regarding the hepatorenal markers, those animals treated with T. vulgaris alone did not induce any significant changes. Moreover, the combined treatment with T. vulgaris extract together with Pb showed significant improvement in Pb-induced toxicity in all the tested parameters compared to the negative control group. We investigated the potential protective effects of the medicinal plant T. vulgaris in vivo, since there are no publications that address the potential protective effect of this leaf extract against Pb-induced hepatorenal toxicity. Our studies concluded that the T. vulgaris extract reduces Pb overload in hepatorenal tissues, and that this has a potential immunomodulatory role, antioxidant activity, and a protective effect against Pb toxicity.

Allorhizobium (Agrobacterium) vitis is a host-specific pathogenic bacterium that causes grapevine crown gall disease, affecting vine growth and production worldwide. The antibacterial activities of different aromatic plant essential oils were tested in vitro and in planta against A. vitis. Among the essential oils tested, those of Origanum compactum and Thymus vulgaris showed the most significant in vitro antibacterial activities, with a MIC of 0.156 and 0.312 mg/mL, respectively. A synergistic effect of these two essential oils (1:1) was observed and confirmed by the checkerboard test. Carvacrol (61.8%) and thymol (47.8%) are, respectively, the major compounds in the essential oils of O. compactum and T. vulgaris and they have been shown to be largely responsible for the antibacterial activities of their corresponding essential oils. Results obtained in vitro were reinforced by an in planta pathogenicity test. A mixture of O. compactum and T. vulgaris essential oils (1:1), inoculated into the injured stem of a tomato plant and a grapevine at 0.312 mg/mL as a preventive treatment, reduced both the number of plants developing gall symptoms and the size of the tumors.

National audience | Allorhizobium (Agrobacterium) vitis is a host-specific pathogenic bacterium that causes grapevine crown gall disease, affecting vine growth and production worldwide. The antibacterial activities of different aromatic plant essential oils were tested in vitro and in planta against A. vitis. Among the essential oils tested, those of Origanum compactum and Thymus vulgaris showed the most significant in vitro antibacterial activities, with a MIC of 0.156 and 0.312mg/mL, respectively. A synergistic effect of these two essential oils (1:1) was observed and confirmed by the checkerboard test. Carvacrol (61.8%) and thymol (47.8%) are, respectively, the major compounds in the essential oils of O. compactum and T. vulgaris and they have been shown to be largely responsible for the antibacterial activities of their corresponding essential oils. Results obtained in vitro were reinforced by an in planta pathogenicity test. A mixture of O. compactum and T. vulgaris essential oils (1:1), inoculated into the injured stem of a tomato plant and a grapevine at 0.312mg/mL as a preventive treatment, reduced both the number of plants developing gall symptoms and the size of the tumors.