Fatemeh Amin - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Ali Roohbakhsh - Pharmacutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Arghavan Memarzia - Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hamid Kazerani - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide which induces oxidative stress and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects were shown for Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) and carvacrol previously. The effects of Z. multiflora hydroalcoholic extract and carvacrol on systemic inflammation and oxidative stressinduced by inhaled PQ were examined in this study. Materials and Methods: Six groups of male rats used in this study were as follows: control group exposed to normal saline aerosol, one group exposed to PQ 54 mg/m3 aerosol, animals exposed to PQ 54 mg/m3 and treated with Z. multiflora (200 and 800 mg/kg/day) or carvacrol (20 and 80 mg/kg/day) for 16 days after the end of exposure to PQ. Exposure to PQ was performed 8 times, every other day, each time for 30 min. After the end of the treatment period, different variables were measured. Results: Significant increases in nitrite (NO2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin (IL)-6 serum levels but significant reduction of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) serum levels as well as IFN-γ/IL-6 ratio were observed in PQ-exposed compared to control group (p2, and IL-6 but increased IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-6 ratio compared to un-treated PQ exposed group (p Conclusion: Treatment with Z. multiflora and carvacrol improved systemic inflammation oxidative biomarkers induced by inhaled PQ which may indicate therapeutic potential of the plant and its constituent, carvacrol in systemic inflammation and oxidative biomarkers induced by inhaled PQ.

Paraquat, Zataria multiflora, carvacrol, oxidative biomarkers, inflammation