Study on Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Effects on Mental Performance and Well-being of University Students
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in interest towards the potential beneficial properties of medicinal plants and traditional herbs, both within the scientific community and among the general public. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a plant known for its aromatic and healing qualities, has attracted particular interest for its purported therapeutic properties.
Memory, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality represent fundamental aspects of mental health and psychological well-being, especially for university students, who often face periods of high stress and intense academic pressure. Therefore, investigating the potential effects of Thyme on cognitive performance and the psychological well-being of university students is of considerable importance.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral intake of Thyme leaves (Thymus vulgaris) on memory performance, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in a sample of university students.
This randomized controlled trial involved 106 students who were randomly assigned to one of two groups.
The first group received 500 mg of Thyme leaves twice a day, while the second group received a placebo. The intervention period lasted for one month.
The participants’ memory performance (both prospective and retrospective), levels of anxiety and depression, and sleep quality were assessed using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) at the beginning of the study and after one month.
The results revealed significant reductions in scores on all scales and subscales, except for the sleep latency and sleep duration components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, in the group that received Thyme leaves compared to the control group.
Thyme leaves show potential in improving both prospective and retrospective memory, alleviating anxiety and depression, and enhancing sleep quality in university students.
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Source: Alqudah A, Qnais EY, Bseiso Y, Gammoh O, Wedyan M, Alotaibi BS. Effects of orally administered Thymus vulgaris leaves on memory, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in university students: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023 Nov;27(22):10806-10814. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202311_34447. PMID: 38039009.
