The investigation of the Anti-hypercholesterolemic Activities of Thymbra Spicata Labiata Oil (Karabas Thyme Oil) and Atorvastatin

Abstract

The leaves of TSL (Thymbra Spicata Labiatae), which include plant sterols and stanols, are used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which is a highly prevalent health problem. This study aimed to determine the histopathological effects of TSL oil and atorvastatin (ATS), also known as Karabas thyme, an herb in the Isparta region, on the biochemical parameters and the kidney tissues of the rats who received TSL oil and ATS in varying doses . 42 male four month-old Wistar albino rats with weights ranging from 200 to 250 g were used in this study. They were divided into 6 equal groups with 7 rats in each. The control group was fed standard pellet chow. The cholesterol (Chol) group and the other groups, except control groups, were fed on pellet chow with a cholesterol level of 1%. The 100 TSL, 200 TSL and 300 TSL groups were fed with a gavage tube a mixture of TSL oil, 0.5% Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (SCMC) of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. On the other hand, a 50 mg/kg Atorvastatin (ATS) 0.5% Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (SCMC) suspension was prepared and administered with a gavage tube to the 50 ATS group. Control group was given 0.5 ml with probed %0.5 SCMC.30 days later, the experiment was ended, and blood and tissue samples were collected from the rats. The following concentrations were assessed in the blood samples: serum glucose, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatine, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotrasferase (ALT), aspartate aminotrasferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDLC), Triglyceride (TG), Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), fibrinogen, homocysteine, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The kidney tissues were examined histopathologically. It was observed in this study that TSL and ATS did not affect the biochemical test results in general. It was also found that TSL could be influential in hypercholesterolemia and that a 300 mg/kg of TSL and ATS showed an antihypercholesterolemic effect of approximately the same degree. With TSL and ATS, minor kidney defects were observed. However, the effects of TSL increased with larger doses.