Thymol, a Monoterpene Phenolic Derivative of Cymene, Abrogates Mercury-Induced Oxidative Stress Resultant Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity in Hepatocarcinoma Cells

摘要

Thymol (TOH) was investigated for its ability to protect against mercuric chloride (HgCl_2)-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity using human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line. 3-(4,5-Dimethylth-iazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay confirmed the efficacy of TOH pretreatment in attenuating HgCl_2-induced cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with TOH inhibited HgCl_2-induced genotoxicity, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial superoxide levels. Interestingly, TOH (100 μM) alone elevated the intracellular basal glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels and TOH pretreatment abrogated the decrease in glutathione, GST, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels even after HgCl_2 intoxication. Furthermore, TOH was also capable of inhibiting HgCl_2-induced apopto-tic as well as necrotic cell death analyzed by flowcytometric analysis of cells dual stained with Annexin-FITC/propidium iodide. The present findings clearly indicate the cytoprotective potential of TOH against HgCl_2-induced toxicity, which may be attributed to its free radical scavenging ability which facilitated in reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage thereby inhibiting cell death.