title: Evaluation of p-cymene, a natural antioxidant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have demonstrated that essential oils and their major components have antioxidant activity. p-Cymene is a monoterpene and a major constituent of essential oils of various species of plants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper evaluated the antioxidant potential of p-cymene in the hippocampus of mice by determining the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite content, and activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss mice were intraperitoneally treated with 0.05% Tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% saline solution, ascorbic acid 250 mg/kg, and p-cymene at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively. After treatment, all groups were observed for 24 h, afterwards, the groups were euthanized for removal of the brain and dissection of the hippocampus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of treatment with p-cymene were a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and nitrite content at a dose of CYM 50: 65.54%, CYM 100: 73.29%, CYM 150: 89.83%, and CYM 50: 71.21%; CYM 100: 68.61% and CYM 150:67%, respectively, when compared with the control group. The results showed that at all tested doses, p-cymene produces an increase in SOD and catalase activity significantly at a dose of CYM 50: 22.7%, CYM 100: 33.9%, CYM 150: 63.1%, and CYM 50: 119.25%, CYM 100: 151.83% and CYM 150: 182.70%, respectively, when compared with the vehicle-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study shows that p-cymene has an antioxidant potential in vivo and may act as a neuroprotective agent in the brain. This compound may present a new strategy in the development of treatment for many diseases in which oxidative stress plays an important pathophysiological role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Laboratory of Research in Experimental Neurochemistry of Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science , Federal University of Piauí, Teresina - Piauí , Brazil and.
authors.forename: Talita Mendes
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Rusbene Bruno Fonseca
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Iwyson Henrique Fernandes
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Guilherme Antônio Lopes
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Alexandre Araujo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Sidney Gonçalo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Rivelilson Mendes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Freitas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081007:Cymenes; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C007210:4-cymene
keywords: Catalase; lipid peroxidation; monoterpene; nitrite; superoxide dismutase