Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Thyme Essential Oil on H2O2 Stress in Heart Tissues.
BACKGROUND
Thymus algeriensis (T. algeriensis) is traditionally used in Tunisia to treat many human diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether terpenes extracted from the aerial parts of T. algeriensis are potent cardioprotective agents for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.


METHOD
Thirty (30) rats were divided into six groups as per the experimental design: control (n = 6); 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 (LD H2O2) (n = 6); 1 mmol/L H2O2 (HD H2O2) (n = 6); oily fraction of T. algeriensis (OFTS) (180 mg/kg b.wt) (n = 6); OFTS + 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 (n = 6); and OFTS + 1 mmol/L H2O2 (n = 6).


RESULTS
The H2O2 demonstrated concentration-dependent cardiotoxic effects in vitro. While, exposure of rats to OFTS significantly depleted H2O2-induced protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, it raised antioxidant defence enzymes, and protected against H2O2-induced histopathological alterations. The antioxidant potential of the thyme essence was assessed by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.


CONCLUSION
In conclusion, OFTS may be a potential compound for the therapy of oxidative stress-induced heart disease.
['Guesmi|Fatma|F|', 'Khantouche|Linda|L|', 'Mehrez|Amel|A|', 'Bellamine|Houda|H|', 'Landoulsi|Ahmed|A|']
D000818:Animals D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide D015227:Lipid Peroxidation D008297:Male D009206:Myocardium D009822:Oils, Volatile D018384:Oxidative Stress D051381:Rats D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley D046930:Thymus Plant
Thymus algeriensis Cardiotoxicity Antioxidant defence enzymes Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances