Thymol from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. protects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in Chang cells

Abstract

The present work describes the protective effects of thymol isolated from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage through various experiments with Chang liver cells. Thymol significantly protected hepatocytes against t-BHP-induced cell cytotoxicity as demonstrated by increased viability. Furthermore, observation of Hoechst staining, annexin V/PI staining, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax indicated that thymol inhibited t-BHP-induced Chang cell damage. Further, thymol inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in t-BHP-treated Chang cells and prevented oxidative stress-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Thymol restored the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes including glutathione (GSH) levels which were reduced by t-BHP. These results indicated that thymol prevents oxidative stress-induced damage to liver cells through suppression of ROS and MDA levels and increase of GSH level.

Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Mechanisms of Thymol: Prospects for Its Therapeutic Potential and Pharmaceutical Development

“…Thymol (50 μg/ml) inhibited oxidative damage to liver cells by inhibiting ROS overproduction, ameliorating lipid peroxidation, preventing apoptosis and increasing antioxidant levels in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced Chang liver cells (Kim et al, 2014). Thymol (125 mg/kg) attenuated CCl 4 induced hepatoxicity by inhibiting the release of glutamic pyruvate transaminase into the serum and it also decreased the levels of MDA in female Swiss OFFI mice (Jimenez et al, 1993).…”

Effects of UV Rays and Thymol/<b><i>Thymus vulgaris</i></b> L. Extract in an ex vivo Human Skin Model: Morphological and Genotoxicological Assessment

“…The DMSO concentration did not exceed 0.1%. The concentration of T. vulgaris L. extract contains a comparable dosage of thymol (1 μg/ml) [Ocaña and Reglero, 2012;Satooka and Kubo, 2012;Kim et al, 2014]. These concentrations are not cytotoxic or prooxidant in vitro (internal data).…”

“…Recently, thymol showed capabilities as an antioxidant and in neutralization of free radicals in Chang cells [Kim et al, 2014]. After radiation exposure, thymol reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts [Archana et al, 2009].…”

Thymol and Thymus Vulgaris L. activity against UVA- and UVB-induced damage in NCTC 2544 cell line

“…Recently, several in vivo and in vitro studies have been performed to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic and antioxidant properties of Thyme's extract and thymol, focusing especially on their free radical scavenger activity [,24,25]. In vitro studies on Chang cells showed that thymol prevents oxidative stress-induced damage to liver cells through suppression of ROS and MDA increased levels and increasing GSH levels [26]. Besides, thymol protects Chinese Hamster lung fibroblast from gamma radiation-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity [27].…”