Chemical investigation of the essential oil of Thymus linearis (Benth. ex Benth) from western Himalaya, India.

Thymus linearis (Benth. ex Benth) was collected from five distinct locations of western Himalaya (India) during the summer season. The hydro-distilled essential oil (yield 0.84-0.95%) was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 56 constituents, representing 81.55% to 98.11% of the total oil composition, were identified. Thymol (52.28-66.65%), p-cymene (1.81-21.60%) and γ-terpinene (1.94-12.48%) were the major constituents in all populations. Other constituents identified in significant amounts were carvacrol, p-cymen-8-ol, borneol, terpinen-4-ol and thymol methyl ether. The presence of high phenol and essential oil contents in this species make it a suitable substitute for common thyme oil.