Effects of carvacrol upon the liver of rats undergoing partial hepatectomy

The present study aims to investigate the possible effects of carvacrol obtained from origanum oil upon the regenerative feature of the liver subsequent to partial hepatectomy in rats. Male Wistar Albino rats, weighing 230±30 g, were divided into three experiment groups. Group I ( n=8) were used as sham operation group. Group II ( n=8) were applied saline solution and hepatectomy. Carvacrol and hepatectomy (73 mg/kg) were applied to Group III ( n=8). One dose of test material was injected 1 h before 68% partial hepatectomy. At the end of the experiments, blood and organs were removed. The liver regeneration rate of the rats was calculated measuring the weights of their liver before and after the hepatectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) treatments were applied to liver sections. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α) and IL-6 levels were determined in serum samples. The liver regeneration, mitotic index and PCNA index increased significantly in rats of Group III over the Group II at the 72nd hour after partial hepatectomy. Histological evaluations were also similar with these results of PCNA and mitotic indexes. In AST, ALT, TNF- α and IL-6 levels, there was no statistically significant difference. According to these results, it is concluded that carvacrol increases the liver regeneration rate.