Thymol soap

Reactions are quenched by the addition of ethanol, which not only attenuates enzyme action but also facilitates solubilization of the fatty acids during subsequent titration to yield sodium salts (the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ can interfere in the assay by forming fatty acid soaps recalcitrant to titration). One will note a clearing of the titration vessel as titration progresses, even though the ethanol-quenched subsample may initially be turbid because of insoluble fatty acids. The choice of a thymol-phthalein end-point (pH 9.3 to 10.5) indicator is essential to ensure the complete titration of all fatty acids, in view of the relative high pKa values for oleic acid noted earlier. 

Ajowan oleoresin prepared from seeds gives a warm, aromatic and pleasing flavour to food products and is used in processed foods, snacks, sauces and various vegetable preparations. Ajowan oil can be treated with aqueous alkaline solution to extract thymol (Pruthi, 2001). Fatty oils produced from ajowan seed have their use in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, are used in the soap industry for flavouring and as a deodorant. They are also used for perfuming disinfectant soaps and as an insecticide. A thymol-free fraction of the oil, known as thymene , finds application in soap perfumes (Malhotra and Vijay, 2004). 

Phenolic compounds such as cresol, chloro-cresol, chloroxylenol and thymol are frequently solubilised with soap to form clear solutions which are widely used for disinfection. Solution of Chloroxylenol BP, for example, contains 5% w/v chloroxylenol with terpineol in an alcoholic soap solution. 

Thymus vulgaris L. (Thyme) The main component of the essential oil (2.3 %) of partially dried leaves of thyme grown in Kenya was thymol. Thyme oil from other countries is reported to contain thymol (up to 85%) and p-cymene (up to 45%). Thyme is used as a spice due to its apetite stimulating and digestion promotion properties. The oil has strong antimicrobial activity and is also used in the liqueur industiy and as a perfume in soaps, deodorants and hair lotions (34). 

Furthermore, dibenzyl ether [ 16] and thymol [ 17] are used in large quantities in soap perfumes, fragrances and as intermediate in menthol production. Both compounds were detected frequently in the sediment samples investigated, only thymol was not quantified (see Table 4). 

Large doses (over 1 g) of the compound thymol may cause abortion (Sollman 1948). In the 1970s, a combination of thymol, potassium iodide, soap, and astringents was applied as a topical irritant to produce abortion. This practice was considered high risk, and a number of maternal deaths were associated with the use of this combination (Gillespie 1973). 

Aromatic Antiseptic Tooth Soap,—Castile soap 1 lb. finely-powdered pumice, 1 oz, thymol, 20 grains oil of winter green, 30 drops. Shave the soap into ribbons, beat it into a paste with a little water, and add first the pumice and next the thymol and wintergreen dissolved in a small quantity of alcohol. 

Thymol,—This furnishes a not unpleasant, and very useful antiseptic soap, recommended especially for the cleansing of ulcerated wounds and restoring the skin to a healthy state. The normal strength is 3 per cent. It is preferable to replace part of the thymol with red thyme oil, the thymene of which imparts a sweeter odour to the soap than if produced with thymol alone. A suitable blend is 2 per cent, of thymol crystals and per cent, of a good red thyme oil. 

In German phytomedicine, preparations (tea) prescribed at 1-2 g of dried herb (calculated to contain at least 0.5% phenols, calculated as thymol) are used for alleviating the symptoms of bronchitis, whooping cough, and catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. Thyme oil is also used in toothpastes, soaps, detergents, creams, lotions, and per-... 

Solutions of cresol with soap were early pharmaceutical examples of solubilized systems. Phenol itself is soluble in water to the extent of 7.7 % (w/v), but it has disadvantages the alternatives, cresol, chlorocresol, chloroxylenol, and thymol, are much less soluble in water, and their use as disinfectants has led to the need for formulation in surfactant solutions. 

---