title: Carvacrol attenuates serum levels of total protein, phospholipase A2 and histamine in asthmatic guinea pig.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pharmacological effects of carvacrol such as its anti-inflammatory activities have been shows. In this study the effects of carvacrol on serum levels of total protein (TP), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and histamine in sensitized guinea pigs was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensitized guinea pigs were given drinking water alone (group S), drinking water containing three concentrations of carvacrol (40, 80 and 160 µg/ml) or dexamethasone. Serum levels of TP, PLA2 and histamine were examined I all sensitized groups as well as a non-sensitized control group (n=6 for each group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In sensitized animals, serum levels of TP, PLA2 and histamine were significantly increased compared to control animals (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Significant reduction in TP, PLA2 and histamine levels were observed in treated groups with the two higher concentrations of carvacrol but dexamethasone treatment only decreased serum level of PLA2 (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Although the effect of the lowest concentration of the extract was less than that of dexamethasone (p<0.05 for TP and p<0.001 for PLA2), the effects of the two higher concentrations on PLA2 were similar to dexamethasone and on TP (p<0.01) and histamine (p<0.001) were higher than those of dexamethasone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that carvacrol reduced serum levels of TP, PLA2 and histamine in sensitized guinea pigs which may indicate an anti-inflammatory effect of this agent in inflammatory disorders such as asthma.
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Payam Noor University, 19395-4697 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yahyazadeh
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boskabady
keywords: Asthma; Carvacrol; Guinea pigs; Histamine; Phospholipase A2; Sensitization; Total protein