The Cytotoxic Activity of Thymus vulgaris Extract on Cancer Cell Lines, and Antimicrobial Activity on Strains of Pathogenic Bacteria

Medicinal plants and their phytochemicals have been used in the treatment of different diseases since antiquity. Extensive research into medicinal plants has shown that there is a significant influence for plant compounds in treating severe and chronic diseases that cause of death across the globe. Moreover, herbal plants prove to be an efficient way to treat different cancerous infections, and they have shown antimicrobial properties. In the present study, Thymus Vulgaris extract has been tested for cytotoxicity activity against Bt20 (breast cancer cell line) and PC3 (prostate cancer cell lines) for 24 hours, and for antibacterial activity against different strains of bacteria (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus). This study hypothesized that Thymus Vulgaris extract has anticancer activity and has a tremendous antimicrobial effect on these bacteria strains. In cancer cell lines, a cell viability indicator Alamar blue reagent and a fluorescent plate reader were used to determine the cell viability. In bacteria, the growth of bacteria was determined by monitoring the increase around the thyme extract. This study showed that the section of Thymus vulgaris had shown inhibition in the growth activity of BT20 (breast cancer cell lines) at the three highest concentrations (1.384, 2.768, and 5.536 μg/ml). Thymus vulgaris extract at concentrations of 1.384, 2.768, and 5.536 μg/ml significantly inhibited PC3 cell viability. Thyme was most potent against BT-20 cell line, whereas it was the least effective against PC-3. Thymus vulgaris extract has antibacterial activities against bacteria. At the two highest concentrations (5.536 and 1.384 μg/ml), Thymus vulgaris extract inhibited the growth of bacteria (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus); whereas at concentrations (0.346 and 0.0865 μg/ml), Thymus vulgaris extract showed slight antibacterial activities only against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings highlight that Thymus vulgaris extract has anticancer and antibacterial activity, and this study supports our hypothesis. These studies show that the Thymus vulgaris has potential for use as anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Further research in the latter two studies is under consideration