Moreover, thymol has been revealed to prevent the development of atherosclerosis by suppressing inflammatory mediators: IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TNF-β and adhesion molecules: vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), MCP-1, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in hyperlipidemic rabbits. This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and atherosclerosis.