The Effect of Carvacrol on Oxidative and Inflammatory Liver Damage due to Staphylococcus aureus Infection in Rats

SUMMARY. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial pathogen that can cause oxidative stress. Carvacrol has anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of carvacrol and its effect on liver damage by S. aureus. The rats were divided into four groups: con-trol(HG), S. aureus injected (SaG), S. aureus + carvacrol (SaC), and S. aureus + cefazolin (SaCF). S. aureus was injected intraperitoneally (ip) to the SaG, SaC and SaCF groups. 24 h after the injection, carvacrol was given to the SaC group and cefazolin to the SaCF group as ip. Carvacrol and cefazolin administration was continued for 7 days. According to our antibiogram results, although the antibacterial effect of carvacrol was weaker than cefazolin, it prevented the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), aminotransferase (ALT), aspar-tate aminotransferase (AST) and proinflammatory cytokines and the decrease of total glutathione (tGSH) better (p < 0.001). It also managed histopathological damage better than cefazolin. The results indicate that carvacrol may be helpful in the treatment of liver damage from infection. © 2023, Colegio de Farmaceuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. All rights reserved.