描述
Thymol, also known as 1-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-isopropylbenzene or 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, is a member of the class of compounds known as aromatic monoterpenoids. Aromatic monoterpenoids are monoterpenoids containing at least one aromatic ring. Thus, thymol is considered to be an isoprenoid lipid molecule. Thymol is practically insoluble (in water) and a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). Thymol can be synthesized from p-cymene. Thymol can also be synthesized into thymol sulfate and thymol sulfate(1-). Thymol is a camphor, herbal, and medicinal tasting compound and can be found in a number of food items such as anise, common oregano, caraway, and highbush blueberry, which makes thymol a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Thymol can be found primarily in saliva and urine, as well as in human liver and skeletal muscle tissues. Thymol exists in all eukaryotes, ranging from yeast to humans.