Supplemental carvacrol can reduce the severity of inflammation by influencing the production of mediators of inflammation.

Carvacrol (CVC) is a monoterpenic phenol, which is present in the essential oil of various plants. It has been widely used both as antibacterial feed additive and food preservative. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the prophylactic effects of carvacrol on inflammatory mediators of sepsis. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels as proinflammatory markers were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined in the sample by using thiobarbituric acid test. Nitric oxide (NO) levels and arginase activity and also all measurements were evaluated after 24 h from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections done (1 mg/kg i.p.). All carvacrol doses (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) were given by intra gastric gavage during six days before LPS injection (7th day). Proinflammatory cytokines, MDA, NO levels, and arginase activity were decreased by carvacrol according to the carvacrol doses. These results indicate that carvacrol may have a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner. Subchronic use of CVC can be assisted to pre-treat of sepsis as a prophylactic.