Anti-inflammatory effects of carvacrol: evidence for a key role of interleukin-10.

Abstract

Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpene, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanisms involved in its pharmacological properties are currently not well understood. In the present study, the contribution of cytokine modulation to the anti-inflammatory effects of carvacrol was investigated in a classical inflammation model: the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced paw inflammation in mice. The paw edema was measured using a plesthismometer. Paw tissue was removed 2h after the inflammatory stimulus to determine the levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) by enzyme immunoassay, the levels of interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) by ELISA or the mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 by real-time PCR. Administration of carvacrol produced anti-inflammatory effects against CFA-induced inflammation in mice. Treatment of mice with carvacrol at 50 and 100mg/kg attenuated the paw edema and reduced the IL-1β and PGE(2), but not TNF-α, local levels. Similarly, carvacrol (100mg/kg) reduced the COX-2 and IL-1β mRNA expression. The levels of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and the IL-10 mRNA expression in the inflamed paw were enhanced by carvacrol. In addition, the treatment with carvacrol did not reduce the CFA-induced paw edema in IL-10 knockout mice. The present results suggest that carvacrol causes anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the production of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β and prostanoids, possibly through the induction of IL-10 release.

• Authors: Milena da Silva Lima, Lucindo J Quintans-Júnior, Wagno Alcântara de Santana, Carla Martins Kaneto, Milena Botelho Pereira Soares, Cristiane Flora Villarreal
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 699 Issue 1-3 Pg. 112-7 (Jan 15 2013) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23220159 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cymenes
• Inflammation Mediators
• Interleukin-1beta
• Monoterpenes
• Prostaglandins
• RNA, Messenger
• Interleukin-10
• carvacrol

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Cymenes
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Edema (drug therapy, pathology)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Inflammation (drug therapy, pathology)
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Interleukin-10 (genetics, metabolism)
• Interleukin-1beta (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Monoterpenes (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Prostaglandins (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction