Ex vivo assessment of protective effects of carvacrol against DNA lesions induced in primary rat cells by visible light excited methylene blue (VL+MB)

Abstract

Carvacrol belongs to frequently occurring phenolic components of essential oils (EOs) and it is present in many kinds of plants. Biological effect of this phenol derivative on human beings is however not sufficiently known. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the level of VL+MB-induced oxidative DNA lesions in hepatocytes and testicular cells (freshly isolated from control or carvacrol-watered rats) by the modified single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). The results showed that carvacrol significantly reduced the level of VL+MB-induced oxidized bases (EndoIII-and Fpg-sensitive sites) only in hepatocytes but not in testicular cells. Chromosomal aberration assay of primary hepatocytes, isolated from control or carvacrol-watered rats did not testify any genotoxic activity of carvacrol. We suggest that in vivo applied synthetic carvacrol, whose antioxidative activity was confirmed by DPPH assay, exhibits primarily a strong hepatoprotective activity against oxidative damage to DNA.

Genotoxic and oxidative damage potentials in human lymphocytes after exposure to terpinolene in vitro

“…SCE is a sensitive indicator of chromosome (DNA) instability, since the SCE patterns can reveal general genome instability (Konat 2003). An even closer parallel to our findings is provided by the work of Slamenova et al (2011) who have recently found that chromosomal aberration assay (CA) in rat primary hepatocytes did not testify any genotoxic activity of carvacrol and thymol. Again, Turner et al (2001) reported that limonene, which is a monoterpene, did not exhibit genotoxic effects in male Big Blue rats.…”

Cytotoxic, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties of the most frequent plant volatiles

“…At concentrations ≤IC 50 the compounds studied did not induce DNA strand breaks either in human HepG2 or in Caco-2 cells, however, incubation of human cells in the presence of the monoterpens thymol and carvacrol led to a significant protection of cellular DNA against a strong oxidative agent -hydrogen peroxide [47]. We also found out [63] that in vivo applied synthetic carvacrol exhibited primarily a strong hepato-protective activity against oxidative damage to DNA. Incubation of the cells with eucalyptol and eugenol did not manifest any protective effects.…”

“…carvacrol or thymol. Various techniques were used: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay [63,69,70,71,72], β-carotene bleaching test [68,70,72], thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) assay [67,69,73], ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay [72], oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay [74] and method measuring the formation of hydroperoxydienes from linoleic acid [67]. With help of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy Fujisawa et al [75] found that eugenol and eugenol-related synthetic compounds possessed radical scavenging activity comparable with the activity of conventional antioxidants.…”

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of the Essential Oils of Satureja thymbra and Satureja parnassica and their Major Constituents

“…Therefore, the major constituents of the essential oils of S. thymbra and S. parnassica, carvacrol and thymol, have also been studied for their potential protective and therapeutic role against a wide variety of pathological conditions and organisms (1,2,10). In moderate concentrations, they do not affect the viability of normal cells and have been shown to protect cells from oxidative stress induced by agents such as H 2 O 2 (11)(12)(13). Their promising activities, together with the low toxicity they present, may allow for their use as the basis for drug development, alone or together with known synthetic drugs in order to enhance their efficacy.…”