Background: Diabetes has been known as a prevalence disorder and the use of common drugs has been faced many issues with multiple limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the use of carvacrol, as a novel agent, for treatment of diabetes.
Materials and Methods:A single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body weight) was used to induce the diabetes in rats. The animals were grouped into five groups including 1. Control healthy animals; 2. Diabetic controls; 3, 4 & 5. Diabetic animals given carvacrol (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight/day) in neutral sterile olive oil solution oral gavage, respectively. The levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) activities were evaluated. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression in liver were assessed.Results: Administration of streptozotocin increased levels of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and also decreased activities of catalase, SOD and GPX (P<0.05). Oral administration of carvacrol, especially 15 mg/kg body weight/day, could decrease levels of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and also increase activities of catalase, SOD and GPX in comparison to diabetic control (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Carvacrol could decrease or alleviate the negative effects of carvacrol on inflammation and antioxidant status that could be attributed to antioxidant properties. It could be recommended to apply carvacrol in commercial prescription in combination with other agents or as a single agent for treatment of diabetes.