Cardioprotective effect of thymol against adrenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease represents a vital global disease burden. This study aims to assess the possible cardioprotective effect of thymol against adrenaline-induced myocardial injury (MI) in rats. Furthermore the effect of thymol on cardiac function biomarkers, electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and histopathological changes was assessed. MI was induced by adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) injected as a single dose for 2 consecutive days (24 h apart). Normal and control groups received the vehicle for 21 consecutive days. The other 3 groups were orally administered thymol (15, 30, 60 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days and on day 22, adrenaline was injected as a single dose for 2 consecutive days. Then ECG examination, biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical analyses were carried out. Thymol reversed adrenaline-induced reduction of heart rate, prolongation of RR interval and elevation of ST interval. Thymol pretreatment significantly reduced serum aspartate dehydrogenase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) levels in MI rats. Oral pretreatment with thymol increased reduced glutathione (GSH), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) cardiac contents in MI rats. Additionally, thymol administration significantly decreased protein expression of caspase-3, increased Bcl-2 protein expression in cardiac tissue and ameliorated histopathological changes. This study reveals that thymol exerted cardioprotective effect against adrenaline-induced MI in rats evidenced by improving cardiac function, attenuating ECG and histopathological changes which may be partly mediated through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect.

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties from Caatinga plant species: how they do it? – A literature review

“…Even though L. gracilis, H. spicigera and E. stipitate aren't studied through the healing optics, there is evidence in the literature, that the compounds present in those species, such Thymol, α-Pinene, and Guaiou also induces a healing activity (Najafloo et al, 2020;García-Salinas et al, 2020;Pivetta et al, 2018). Moreover, it has antimicrobial activity (Kazemi-Pasarvi et al, 2020), antioxidant (Gursul et al, 2019), anticarcinogenesis (Li et al, 2017), and cardioprotective (El-Marasy et al, 2020). α-Pinene is effective against inflammation by suppressing activation of the MAPK/NF-B pathway, which consists in the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and preventing extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase phosphorylation (ERK), as well, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK).…”

Gongronema latifolium leaf extract protects against dexamethasone‐induced myocardial cell injury via cardiac oxido‐inflammatory molecules modulation

“…The myocytes loss seen in the DEX group may be due to apoptosis or necrosis and hyperplasia of the myocytes (Mandarim‐de‐Lacerda & Pereira, 2000). A study has reported that prolonged MI is followed accompanied by cell death and ultimately myocardial fibrosis resulting in a decrease in cardiac function which is reversed by phenolic compounds and antioxidants (El‐Marasey et al, 2020). Cell death usually results in a decrease in cardiac nuclei count and our study collaborates with a previous study that reported low cardiac nuclei to count due to myocardial injury (Korashy et al, 2016).…”

Gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects of thymol against the adverse effects of acetylsalicylic acid in rats: Biochemical and histopathological studies

“…It also has anti-inflammatory (through decreasing cytokines and chemokines recruitment) and antioxidant properties (through scavenging of free radicals, augmenting the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants, and chelation of metal ions) ( Nagoor Meeran et al, 2017 ), antimicrobial (through disruption of the bacterial plasma membrane's lipid portion, resulting in intracellular material leakage) ( Trombetta et al, 2005 ), anticarcinogenic (via apoptosis induction, anti-proliferation, angiogenesis and migration inhibition by modulation of carcinogen metabolising enzyme activity) ( Salehi et al, 2018 ), antispasmodic (via opposing Ca 2+ activation and the ATP-dependent activity of the muscle) ( Tamura and Iwamoto 2004 ), growth enhancer (via increasing antioxidant and digestive enzyme activity, as well as an improved immunological response, which may have a positive impact on health and performance) ( Hashemipour et al, 2013 ), and immunomodulatory (via increasing the expression CD4, CD8, and Th1 cytokines through increased IFN- γ expression and increased interleukin-12 release ( Chauhan et al, 2010 ). Furthermore, it exhibits hepatoprotective ( Jafari et al, 2018 ), nephroprotective ( Jamshidi and Taheri 2021 ), and cardioprotective properties ( El-Marasy et al, 2020 ).…”