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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Effects of pharmaceutical formulations containing thyme on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Authors: Aleksandar Rašković, Nebojša Pavlović, Maja Kvrgić, Jan Sudji, Gorana Mitić, Ivan Čapo, Momir Mikov

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Herbal supplements are widely used in the treatment of various liver disases, but some of them may also induce liver injuries. Regarding the infuence of thyme and its constituents on the liver, conflicting results have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of two commonly used pharmaceutical formulations containing thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), tincture and syrup, on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats.

Methods

Chemical composition of investigated formulations of thyme was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Activities of enzyme markers of hepatocellular damage in serum and antioxidant enzymes in the liver homogenates were measured using the kinetic spectrophotometric methods. Liver morphology was characterized by light microscopy using routine hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results

Thymol was found to be predominant active constituent in both tincture and syrup. Investigated thyme preparations exerted antioxidant effects in liver by preventing carbon tetrachloride-induced increase of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, co-treatment with thyme preparations reversed the activities of oxidative stress-related enzymes xanthine oxidase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, towards normal values in the liver. Hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride was reflected by a marked elevation of AST and ALT activities, and histopathologic alterations. Co-administration of thyme tincture resulted in unexpected exacerbation of AST and ALT values in serum, while thyme syrup managed to reduce activites of aminotransferases, in comparison to carbon tetrachloride-treated animals.

Conclusions

Despite demonstrated antioxidant activity, mediated through both direct free radical scavenging and activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms, thyme preparations could not ameliorate liver injury in rats. Molecular mechanisms of diverse effects of thyme preparations on chemical-induced hepatotoxicity should be more in-depth investigated.

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Title: Effects of pharmaceutical formulations containing thyme on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats
Authors: Aleksandar Rašković
Nebojša Pavlović
Maja Kvrgić
Jan Sudji
Gorana Mitić
Ivan Čapo
Momir Mikov
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0966-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Effects of pharmaceutical formulations containing thyme on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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