The Effects of Thymus Caramanicus Jalas Extract and Its Main Constituent Carvacrol Against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice

Cisplatin, an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, has nephrotoxic effects. Thymus caramanicus Jalas (TCJ) has antioxidant effects due to its main components. Objectives: In the current research, we assessed the impact of TCJ extract and its main compound on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.

TCJ (150 mg/kg) and its main component, carvacrol, could somewhat reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects.

Forty-two male mice were used in the study. Depending on their group, the animals received saline, carvacrol (10 mg/kg), or TCJ extract (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) for 10 days. On the fifth day, mice received cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.). After 10 days, serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as the activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in the kidney tissues. The western blotting method was used to determine the kidney's expression of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Kidney tissue damage score (KTDS) was assessed using the hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining method.

Cisplatin significantly increased serum Cr, KTDS, MDA, BUN levels, NF-κB, TNF-α, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax protein expression in the cisplatin group compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, cisplatin significantly decreased the kidney tissue's TAC and GSH content, activity levels of SOD, catalase, and GPx indicators, and expression of Bcl-2 protein (P < 0.05). TCJ and carvacrol significantly ameliorated these indicators in the cisplatin + TCJ (150 mg/kg) and cisplatin + carvacrol (10 mg/kg) groups compared to the cisplatin group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: TCJ (150 mg/kg) and its main component, carvacrol, could somewhat reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects.