Protective Effects of Carvacrol, Essential Composition of Thyme Plant, on Cyclophosphamide-induced Reproductive System Damage on Rats

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating drug widely used clinically for the treatment of cancer and non - malignant diseases. However, the use of CP causes cytotoxicity in one or more tissues. In this study, it was aimed to determine possible protective effects of carvacrol (Car) which is the main component of thyme plant with antioxidant properties on CP (50 and 100 mg kg-1) testis toxicity. In the study, 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups as 7 animals in each group. According to histological and biochemical findings, Car was found to provide meaningful protection in the prevention of testicular damage caused by CP. According to the results of the research, carvacrol is a highly effective antioxidant and cell protector. For this reason, Car may be an effective candidate for reducing side effects of anticancer drugs in chemotherapy protocols.