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Thymol from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. protects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in Chang cells

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Abstract

The present work describes the protective effects of thymol isolated from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage through various experiments with Chang liver cells. Thymol significantly protected hepatocytes against t-BHP-induced cell cytotoxicity as demonstrated by increased viability. Furthermore, observation of Hoechst staining, annexin V/PI staining, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax indicated that thymol inhibited t-BHP-induced Chang cell damage. Further, thymol inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in t-BHP-treated Chang cells and prevented oxidative stress-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Thymol restored the antioxidant capability of hepatocytes including glutathione (GSH) levels which were reduced by t-BHP. These results indicated that thymol prevents oxidative stress-induced damage to liver cells through suppression of ROS and MDA levels and increase of GSH level.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with the support of the “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ009430)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, 380-701, Korea

    Yon-Suk Kim, Jin-Woo Hwang, Seo-Hee Kang & Pyo-Jam Park

  2. Department of Acupoint and Meridian, College of Oriental Medicine, Semyung University, Jecheon, Chungbuk, 390-711, Korea

    Ee-Hwa Kim

  3. Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, Korea

    You-Jin Jeon

  4. Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju, 380-702, Korea

    Jae-Hyun Jeong

  5. Department of Bioengineering at the Postgraduate School, Konkuk University, Seoul, 143-701, Korea

    Hye-Ran Kim

  6. Nokyong Research Center, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, 380-701, Korea

    Sang-Ho Moon, Byong-Tae Jeon & Pyo-Jam Park

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  1. Yon-Suk Kim
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Correspondence to Pyo-Jam Park.

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Kim, YS., Hwang, JW., Kang, SH. et al. Thymol from Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. protects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in Chang cells. J Nat Med 68, 154–162 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-013-0786-8

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