Protective effect of carvacrol on oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity induced by silver nanoparticles in NMRI mice

Carvacrol, as antioxidant, is antimicrobial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that silver nanoparticles destroy sensitive tissues of the body, including the liver, through disruption of the membrane structure, oxidative stress, binding to protein or DNA, production of active oxygen, and cell death or apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of carvacrol on reducing the cytotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles on the liver tissue of NMRI mice.

In this study, 24 adults male NMRI mice with a mean weight of 35±3 gr were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, sham (distilled water), silver nanoparticles (size 40 nm) (500 mg/kg/b.w/day), carvacrol (100 mg/kg/b.w/day) and silver nanoparticles+carvacrol. Then they treated orally (gavage) for 45 days. At end treatment, liver tissue was removed for histopathological studies. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by FRAP method, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) by spectrophotometric method, as well as alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) by Elisa kit were measured.

In treatment with silver nanoparticles showed a significant decrease in the mean histopathology parameters and total antioxidant capacity, and a significant increase in sinusoid volume, ALT, and AST enzymes and lipid peroxidation (MDA) compared to the control group. The above parameters in the simultaneous treatment group of silver and carvacrol nanoparticles improved to a large extent close to the level of the control group, which was significant.

Carvacrol as anti-oxidant reduces the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on liver.