Human Medical Advances May Result From Tree Nut Research The
popular herb thyme. ARS scientists in Albany, California, are
determining whether the natural compound thymol, extracted from
thyme, can work synergistically with conventional antifungal
meds to boost their effects. Prescription drugs that today help
patients fight severe fungal infections might tomorrow be even
more effective. Laboratory studies by former Agricultural
Research Service research leader Bruce C. Campbell, ARS
molecular biologist Jong H. Kim, and their colleagues suggest
that pairing conventional antifungal medications with natural,
edible plant compounds such as thymol—extracted from the popular
herb thyme—can work synergistically with some of these drugs to
boost their healing effects. The studies are an unexpected
“spillover” from the scientists’ ag-based, food-safety-focused
research, which they conduct at the ARS Western Regional
Research Center in Albany, California. Each year, millions of
Americans are diagnosed with diseases ca