Li XinTong, Ding XiaoXu, Zhang JinWen, Cui Na, Che Jingai
School of Clinical Medicine, HeBei University, BaoDing, 071000, China.
School of Clinical Medicine, HeBei University, BaoDing, 071000, China.
Microb Pathog. 2025 Sep;206:107782. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107782. Epub 2025 Jun 3.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) continues to pose a substantial challenge in intensive care units, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This review article explores the potential protective effects of Thymus daenensis inhalation in the treatment of VAP, with a focus on its key bioactive metabolites, thymol and carvacrol. These compounds exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, making them promising candidates for managing not only VAP but also bacterial and fungal infections, asthma, and tuberculosis. Thymol and carvacrol have demonstrated efficacy in disrupting microbial cell membranes, modulating immune responses, and inhibiting biofilm formation, thereby reducing infection severity and promoting respiratory health. The article synthesizes findings from in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms through which Thymus daenensis and its metabolites exert their protective effects. Additionally, the review highlights the potential therapeutic advantages of inhalation as a delivery method, ensuring targeted and efficient administration to the respiratory system. By integrating current knowledge on the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of thymol and carvacrol, This review highlights the potential of inhaled Thymus daenensis to complement the prevention and treatment of VAP and other respiratory issues. Further research is warranted to establish optimal dosing regimens, safety profiles, and clinical efficacy, paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in respiratory care.
呼吸机相关性肺炎（VAP）在重症监护病房中仍然是一个重大挑战，会导致发病率、死亡率上升以及医疗成本增加。这篇综述文章探讨了百里香吸入在VAP治疗中的潜在保护作用，重点关注其关键生物活性代谢产物百里香酚和香芹酚。这些化合物具有广谱抗菌特性，使其不仅有望用于治疗VAP，还可用于治疗细菌和真菌感染、哮喘及结核病。百里香酚和香芹酚已证明在破坏微生物细胞膜、调节免疫反应和抑制生物膜形成方面具有功效，从而降低感染严重程度并促进呼吸道健康。本文综合了体内、体外和临床研究结果，全面概述了百里香及其代谢产物发挥保护作用的机制。此外，该综述强调了吸入作为一种给药方式的潜在治疗优势，可确保对呼吸系统进行靶向和高效给药。通过整合目前关于百里香酚和香芹酚抗菌和抗炎特性的知识，本综述突出了吸入百里香在补充VAP及其他呼吸道问题预防和治疗方面的潜力。有必要进一步开展研究以确定最佳给药方案、安全性和临床疗效，为呼吸护理领域新治疗策略的开发铺平道路。
