The Effect of Thymol on Renal Toxicity Induced by Mercury Chloride in Rats

Mercuric chloride is highly toxic once absorbed into the bloodstream, especially the kidneys in which it is collected. Mercury chloride increases hydrogen peroxide and enhances the destruction of protective enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), leading to oxidative stress. Besides, thymol has anti-oxidant effects and can increase the activity of SOD and GPX. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of thymol on mercury chloride-induced toxicity.

In this study, 30 rats, consisting of 6 groups of 5, were used. Control group receiving a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg mercuric chloride for 15 days, third, fourth, and fifth group received intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg for 15 days plus thymol at a dose of 10, 30, 50 mg/kg. The sixth group received mercuric chloride at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg for 15 days plus thymol at 30 mg/kg per day for ten days.

Results showed a significant difference in the activity of catalase enzyme in kidney tissue samples test. According to the results of SOD, there is a significant difference between the group of corn oil and the group of mercury chloride and between the group of mercury chloride and the group that receives thymol at a dose of 10, 30, 50 mg/kg (p ≤ 0.05).

It can be concluded that mercury chloride-induced kidney toxicity and thymol have anti-oxidant protective effects for SOD and GPX.