Carvacrol Coadministration Ameliorates Lambda-Cyhalothrin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats: Behavioral and Molecular Evidence

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effects of Carvacrol (CRV) against Lambda-cyhalothrin (CYH)-induced peripheral neuropathy. Thirty-five rats were divided into five groups: Control, CRV, CYH, CYH+CRV25, and CYH+CRV50. CRV 25 or 50 mg/kg and CYH 6.23 mg/kg were administered orally for 21 days. The effects of these treatments were evaluated by hot plate and rotarod tests, followed by molecular, biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses of sciatic nerve tissues. CYH administration significantly impaired both sensory and motor functions. CRV doses (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) administered with CYH significantly improved these impairments (p < 0.001). Additionally, CYH increased MDA levels and decreased antioxidants, while CRV treatment reversed these effects. CRV also suppressed inflammation (p < 0.01), apoptosis (p < 0.001), and endoplasmic reticulum stress (p < 0.001), with the 50 mg/kg dose being more effective. Morphological and immunohistochemical analyses showed that CRV treatment partially repaired CYH-induced nerve damage, with both doses reducing 8-OHdG and beclin-1 immunoreactions. The data revealed that CYH induced inflammation, oxidative stress, ER stress, and apoptosis in sciatic tissue, while CRV exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects, reducing the damage and suggesting its potential as a supportive treatment for CYH-induced sciatic damage.