Protective Effects of Origanum onites Essential Oil in the Methotrexate-Induced Rat Model: Role on Apoptosis and Hepatoxicity

Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective cytotoxic agent which is used to treat malignancies and inflammatory diseases. Origanum onites (O. onites) is found throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region and has been used in traditional medicine. The essential oils (EOs) of O. onites rich in highly bioactive phytochemicals such as carvacrol (CVR) and has antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer and proapoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of CVR and O. onites-EO treatment in MTX-induced hepatorenal toxic rats' liver and kidney tissues. The bcl-2/bax ratio, glutathione (GSH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of liver and kidney tissues were evaluated in the MTX-induced rat model. Results showed that the administration of CVR or O. onites-EO significantly increased bcl-2/bax expression and GSH levels as well as reduced MDA level and MPO activity in the kidney and liver tissues of MTX-induced rat model. In conclusion, our results suggest that O. onites-EO and CVR have protective effect in MTX-induced hepatorenal toxic rats' liver and kidney tissues by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis.