| Abstract: | The non-polar fraction of thyme was examined for the occurrence of phenolic components and their antioxidative activity. In addition to carvacrol ( II ) and thymol ( III ), p -cymene-2,3-diol (I ; 2,3-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl-1-methylbenzene) was isolated for the first time from thyme. The structure of I was elucidated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. Antioxidative activity was investigated with the Rancimat method (100°C) and the Schaal test (60°C). Compound I exhibited the strongest antioxidative activity which was greater than that of α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxyanisole. Five thyme species were analysed by means of HPLC with electrochemical detection for the concentration of compounds I – III . The highest amounts of I – III were found in Thymus vulgaris L. |
