Influence of saponin plants on the volatile fraction of thyme in herbal teas

Combinations of thyme, cowslip and liquorice roots are often used in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore the volatile fraction of herbal teas prepared from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and the effect of combining with cowslip (Primula veris/P. elatior) and liquorice roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on the volatiles were analyzed. Volatile compounds were isolated by hydrodistillation and solid phase extraction and analyzed by GC-MS. Thymol was also quantified by HPLC. The total amount of volatiles as well the thymol content was decreased with increasing proportions of cowslip or liquorice in the infusion extracts whereas the proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons increased.