Reproductive toxicity assessment of Origanum vulgare essential oil on male Wistar rats

ABSTRACT

Background: The oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare L.) is rich in phenolic compounds with therapeutic actionssuch as antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant. Based on the therapeutic potential and clinical use of oregano essentialoil, in vivo toxicology studies of oregano essential oil are scarce and the current researches focus on the genotoxicity ofseveral species of oregano; however, toxicological and complementary studies are needed to ensure safety of formulationscontaining this oil. Through values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of oregano essential oil against Candidaspecies, and increased in an exponential scale, the initial dose was obtained. This study aims to evaluate male fertilitythrough the reproductive aspects of rats chronically treated with oregano essential oil.Materials, Methods & Results: The rats were divided into five groups with 10 males and 30 females each; three groupswere treated with oregano essential oil at a concentration of 3% Vol/Vol (GO3%), of 9% Vol/Vol (GO9%) and of 27% Vol/Vol (GO27%). The negative control group received the vehicle, 0.001% Vol/Vol Tween 80 (GC-) and the positive controlgroup was treated with thymol and terpinen-4-ol, at the same concentration found in the oregano essential oil, detected bygas chromatography (3% + 3% Vol/Vol) (GC+). Animals were allowed to adapt for at least ten days before the beginningof the experiment. They were maintained under...(AU)