PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

H.S. CODE

TOXICITY

SMILES

CLASSIFICATION

Antiinfective, Antifungal, Pharmaceutic aid (stabilizer), Biochemicals ex Plants

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

5.2

REFRACTIVE INDEX

102 C

GENERAL DESCRIPTION & EXTERNAL LINKS

Menthol (Peppermint Camphor): ) a white crystalline compound with a characteristic pungent odor; freely soluble in alcohols, ether, and chloroform. It is obtained from mint oils (mainly peppermint) or made synthetically from coal tar.  It exists in levo or dextro isomer forms.  Menthol imparts a tingling sensation to the skin and used in skin fresheners like after-shave and suntan lotions. It has a local anesthetic property for short-term relief of minor sore throat and minor muscle aches. It is used in medicines and perfumes, and as a mint flavoring agent. End applications include toothpaste, cough drops, ice cream, chewing gum, shampoo, medical plaster.

Thymol (Thyme Camphor): a white crystals with camphor like odor, is a phenolic compound obtained naturally from thyme oil (or other volatile oils) or prepared synthetically. It is very slightly soluble in water; soluble in paraffin oil and alcohol. It is used as a stabilizer in pharmaceutical and as a topical antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal agent. It is also used as a flavoring agent for drugs (camphor, herbal, wintergreen,disinfectants, origanum )

Wikipedia Linking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymol

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/
.....Thymol, as described by the U. S. P., forms "large, colorless, translucent crystals of the hexagonal system, having an aromatic, thyme-like odor, and a pungent, aromatic taste, with a very slight caustic effect upon the lips. Its specific gravity, as a solid, is 1.069 at 15° C. (59° F.), but when liquefied by fusion it is lighter than water. It melts at 50° to 51° C. (122° to 123.8° F.), remaining liquid at considerably lower temperatures. When triturated with about equal quantities of camphor, menthol, or chloral, it liquefies. Soluble in about 1200 parts of water at 15° C. (59° F.), and in less than its own weight of alcohol, ether, or chloroform; also readily soluble in carbon disulphide, glacial acetic acid, and in fixed or volatile oils. Its alcoholic solution is optically inactive"-(U. S. P.). Being a phenol, thymol readily dissolves in caustic alkalies and is regenerated by acids, even carbonic acid (see Preparation, above). Thymol also dissolves in 120 parts of glycerin. In making solutions of thymol with glycerin and water, it is best to triturate the thymol in a mortar with a small portion of alcohol, until it is dissolved, then add the desired menstruum. Thymol boils at 230° C. (446° F.) (Doveri and Lallemand)......

 http://www.thirdplanetfood.com/
Thymol is a phenolic compound found in thyme oil, ajowan seeds (also called ajwain or carom), and horsemint. It is an isomer of carvacrol, meaning it has the same molecular formula but the atoms are arranged differently. Thyme is widely used as an antibacterial, an antimicrobial and an antifungal. It is a very effective disinfectant, being even better than carbolic acid. According to the EPA it is also used in perfumes, food flavorings, mouth wash (Listerine) and cosmetics. Some over the counter medications use thymol for acne, hemorrhoids and athletes foot. It is a component of Vicks Vaporub, which has given many people relief from foot fungus. Thymol was registered for use as a pesticide in the United States in 1964, to be used for repelling domestic animals. It is also listed by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, on the GRAS (Generally recognized as Safe) list. According to an EPA Fact Sheet, they are not aware of any adverse effects of thymol on humans or the environment, and haven't had any significant reports of incidents with thymol....

http://www.botanical.com/
THYMOL, a most valuable crystalline phenol, is the basis of the fragrant volatile Essence of Sweet Thyme, and is obtainable from Carum copticum, Monarda punctata and various other plants, as well as from T. vulgaris, being present to the extent of from 20 to 60 per cent in the oils which yield it. Ajowan oil, its principal commercial source (from the seeds of C. copticum) contains from 40 to 55 per cent of Thymol; the oil of T. vulgaris contains from 20 to 30 per cent as a rule of Thymol and Carvacrol in varying proportions, while the oil of M. punctata contains 61 per cent of Thymol. The extraction of Thymol is effected by treating the oil with a warm solution of sodium hydroxide: this alkali dissolves the Thymol, and on dilution with hot water the undissolved oil (terpenes, etc.) rises to the surface. The alkaline thymol compound is decomposed by treatment with hydrochloric acid and subsequent crystallization of the oily layer into large, oblique, prismatic crystals. Thymol (methyl-propyl-phenol) has been prepared synthetically.

APPEARANCE

OTHER INFORMATION