Emine Koç; Hüseyin Sah; Gözde Ögütçü; Ülfet Farisoglu; Tugçe Akyüz; Ali Özant & Aysel Kükner

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant found naturally in the world and is toxic to humans. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an aromatic ketone found in many medicinal plants. TQ has been reported for its therapeutic potential in many medical conditions. Carvacrol (Car) is a natural essential oil used in medicine. This study aims to investigate the effects of TQ and carvacrol on cadmium-induced damage to gastrointestinal contractility and histological changes. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups (n:6); Control group, Cd group; Cadmium chloride was given 3.5 mg/kg by subcutaneous(sc). In the third group; the Cd+ carvacrol group; carvacrol was given 50 mg/kg orally by gastric lavage and in the fourth group Cd+ TQ group; TQ was given 5mg/kg orally by gastric lavage. In the fifth group, only carvacrol and only TQ were given orally for 14 consecutive days in the sixth group. The duodenal and ileal segments were isolated and suspended in a tissue bath. Acetylcholine (Ach) induced contractions were recorded. For histological changes, the ileum segments were examined by light microscopy. Ach-induced contractions were lower in Cd groups than in Control in all segments. Ach-induced contractions were increased in Cd+Car and Cd+TQ. On the other hand, Cd caused significant morphological damage in the duodenum.The administration of both carvacrol and thymoquinone alleviated this damage. This study has demonstrated that Cd reduced intestinal contractility and caused severe damage in morphology. TQ and carvacrol can raelatively remove Cd-induced damage in intestinal contractility and histology.

KEY WORDS: Cadmium; Thymoquinone; Carvacrol; Contractility; Intestine.

KOÇ, E.; SAH, H.; ÖGÜTÇÜ, G.; FARISOGLU, Ü.; AKYÜZ, T.; ÖZANT, A. & KÜKNER, A. The effects of carvacrol and thymoquinone on cadmium-induced damage in gastrointestinal contractility and histological changes in rats. Int. J. Morphol., 43(4):1196- 1201, 2025.