Protective effect of thymol on high fat diet induced diabetic nephropathy in C57BL/6J mice.

Obesity is one of several factors implicated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thymol, a monoterpene phenolic compound found in the oils of thyme with multiple biological properties especially antidiabetic activity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the thymol against diabetic nephropathy by high fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic C57BL/6J mice. After 10 weeks of continuous dietary intervention, HFD (fat- 35.2%) to mice presented characteristic features of progressive nephropathy by significant increased in kidney weight, blood, and urinary parameters, glomerulosclerosis, oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia and subsequent renal injuries. After intragastric administration of thymol (40 mg/kg BW) daily for the subsequent 5 weeks significantly decreased the blood, urinary parameters and kidney weight. Thymol inhibited the activation of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Also, significantly increased the antioxidants and suppresses the lipid peroxidation markers in erythrocytes and kidney tissue compared to the diabetic mice. Thymol downregulated the expression level of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and reduced the lipid accumulation in renal. Histopathological study of kidney tissues showed that extracellular mesangial matrix expansion, glomerulosclerosis in diabetic mice were suppressed by thymol. Further, our results indicate that administration of thymol afforded remarkable protection against HFD-induced diabetic nephropathy.

Role of thymol on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in high fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic C57BL/6J mice.

Thymol is a monoterpene phenol with many pharmacological activities, but their anti- hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities are not yet explored. This study evaluates the beneficial effects of thymol on plasma, hepatic lipids and hyperglycaemic effects in high-fat diet (HFD) induced type 2 diabetes in C57BL/6J mice. These mice were fed continuously with high fat diet (fat- 35.8%) for 10 weeks and subjected to intragastric administration of various doses (10mg, 20mg and 40mg/kg body weight (BW)) of thymol daily for the subsequent 5 weeks. Body weight (BW), food intake, plasma glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, HbA1c, leptin and adiponectin were significantly decreased and there was an increase in food efficacy ratio. Thymol supplementation were significantly lowered the concentration of plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acids (FFAs), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol as compared to the HFD induced diabetic group due to lipid enzymatic activity. Also, the hepatic lipid contents such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acid and phospholipids (PL) were significantly lowered in the thymol supplemented groups. As compared to other two tested doses of 10mg and 20mg, thymol (40mg/kg BW) were showed significant protective effect on the parameters studied. Thus, indicate thymol protects C57BL/6J mice against HFD due to its anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity. The above outcome concludes that thymol may exhibit promising anti-diabetic activity.