Novel use of Thymol and Carvacrol

The main dose-limiting side effect of cisplatin (CP) is nephrotoxicity. Yet, in spite of intense efforts over the ensuing decades to find less toxic but equally effective alternatives, CP continues to be widely prescribed. It remains as a standard component of treatment regimens for head and neck cancers, testicular cancer, small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian, cervical cancer, bladder cancer and others. Monoterpenes are highly hydrophobic substances present in plant essential oils. They exert a wide spectrum of biological actions of great importance in many different areas. Two monoterpenes of the Lamiaceae that have attracted much attention, thymol and carvacrol. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of thymol and CAR or their combination in ameliorating the toxic effects via inhibition of oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis induced by CP in rats.