What term is used to describe the different varieties of thyme where the specific health effects vary based on whether carvacrol or thymol predominates?
Answer
Chemotypes
The variation in chemical composition within thyme is described by the concept of chemotypes. This means that different cultivated varieties or geographical sources of thyme can exhibit a chemical profile where either thymol or carvacrol is the dominant active compound. Because thymol and carvacrol possess slightly different functional properties, the resulting therapeutic effects observed when using products derived from these distinct chemotypes can vary significantly, emphasizing the need for standardization in extraction processes.
Related Questions
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