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The carvacrol ameliorates acute pancreatitis-induced liver injury via antioxidant response

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Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) may cause significant persistent multi-organ dysfunction. Carvacrol (CAR) possesses a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. The aim of the present study was to analyze the hepatic protection of CAR on AP induced by cerulein and to explore the underlying mechanism using in vivo studies. The rats were randomized into groups to receive (1) no therapy; (2) 50 µg/kg cerulein at 1-h intervals by four intraperitoneal injection (i.p.); (3) 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg CAR by one i.p.; and (4) cerulein + CAR after 2 h of cerulein injection. 12 h later, serum was provided to assess the blood AST, ALT and LDH values. Also, liver tissues were obtained for histological and biochemical measurements. Liver oxidative stress markers were evaluated by changes in the amount of lipid peroxides measured as MDA and changes in tissue antioxidant enzyme levels, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px. Histopathological examination was performed using scoring systems. Oxidative damage to DNA was quantitated in studied tissues of experimental animals by measuring the increase in 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formations. We found that the increasing doses of CAR decreased pancreatitis-induced MDA and 8-OH-dG levels. Moreover, the liver SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in the AP + CAR group were higher than that of the rats in the AP group. In the treatment groups, AST, ALT and LDH were reduced. Besides, necrosis, coagulation and inflammation in the liver were alleviated (p < 0.05). We suggest that CAR could be a safe and potent new drug candidate for treating AP through its antioxidative mechanism of action for the treatment of a wide range of disorders related to hepatic dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Ataturk University, 08000, Erzurum, Turkey

    Murat Bakır, Fatime Geyikoglu, Tulay Ozhan Bakır & Mirkhalil Hosseinigouzdagani

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey

    Suat Colak

  3. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Hasan Turkez

  4. Department of Pharmacy, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy

    Hasan Turkez

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  1. Murat Bakır
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  2. Fatime Geyikoglu
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  5. Tulay Ozhan Bakır
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Correspondence to Fatime Geyikoglu.

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Bakır, M., Geyikoglu, F., Colak, S. et al. The carvacrol ameliorates acute pancreatitis-induced liver injury via antioxidant response. Cytotechnology 68, 1131–1146 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-015-9871-z

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