Effects of carvacrol on ketamine-induced cardiac injury in rats: an experimental study

Aim: We aimed to investigate the preventive effects of carvacrol against ketamine-induced cardiotoxicity biochemically and histopathologically in an experimental model. Material and method: The rats were divided into three groups; healthy control (HC), ketamine alone (KG), and ketamine + carvacrol (KCG) groups. Serum Creatine Kinase Myocardial Band (CK-MB) and Troponin I (TP I) levels were determined. Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured in the heart tissues of the rats. Heart tissues were also evaluated histopathologically. Results: In the ketamine-treated group, tissue MDA, TNF-α, IL-1beta, and IL-6 levels increased while tissue GSH and SOD levels decreased significantly compared with the control group. However, in the ketamine plus carvacrol applied group, all those alterations were significantly less pronounced, close to the healthy controls. Severe mononuclear cell infiltrations, degenerated myocytes and hemorrhage were determined in the ketamine alone administered group, and these alterations were at a mild level in the carvacrol + ketamine administered group. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to ketamine resulted in induced oxidative stress in rat heart tissue; concomitant carvacrol application could counteract the negative effects of ketamine by protecting tissues from lipid peroxidation and decreasing the inflammatory response. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.