Cytotoxicity and morphological effects induced by carvacrol and thymol on the human cell line Caco-2

Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses

“…Finally, Andersen () concluded that thymol did not induce primary lung tumors in mice, caused no dermal irritation, and is not a significant sensitizing or photosensitizing agent. Moreover, thymol did not show any mutagenic activity (0–250 μM) in the Ames Salmonella test (Llana‐Ruiz‐Cabello, Gutiérrez‐Praena, et al, ; Llana‐Ruiz‐Cabello, Maisanaba, et al, ).…”

“…LLana‐Ruiz‐Cabello et al found no cytotoxic effects for thymol at any of the concentrations (0–250 μM) and time of exposures (24 and 48 hr) used. On the contrary, ultrastructural changes, such as lipid degeneration, mitochondrial damage, and nucleolar segregation, were evidenced, suggesting certain cellular damage (Llana‐Ruiz‐Cabello, Gutiérrez‐Praena, et al, ). The genotoxic effects of thymol were also evaluated in Caco‐2 cells and the standard comet assay, revealing that thymol (0–250 μM) had any affects at time of exposures of 24 and 48 hr (Llana‐Ruiz‐Cabello, Maisanaba, et al, ).…”

Effects of cinnamaldehyde and thymol on cytotoxicity, tight junction barrier resistance, and cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 expression in Caco-2 cells

“…Thymol is metabolized to thymol sulphate and thymol glucuronide, and approximately 16% of the thymol dose is secreted as these metabolites in urine (Kohlert et al, 2002). However, on ultrastructural morphological examination by electron microscopy, cell death is induced, as seen in Caco-2 cells with 250 µM thymol treatment for 24 and 48 h, despite no cytotoxicity being observed (Llana-Ruiz-Cabello et al, 2014). In our study, the doses of thymol ranged from 0.033 to 3.3 µM, and ultrastructural changes indicating cytotoxicity are unlikely to happen.…”

Libyan Thymus capitatus essential oil: antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and colon pathogen adhesion-inhibition properties

“…Although some literature data indicate no cytotoxicity of T, Llana‐Ruiz‐Cabello et al . () observed ultrastructural morphological changes that evidenced cellular damage induced by T, such as lipid degeneration, mitochondrial damage, nucleolar segregation and apoptosis. According to our results and the reported data, EO of Libyan Th.…”