Background: Hyperlipidemia is a common problem. It is a well-known aggravating factor in the pathogenesis of many diseases so that, this study was planned to study the structural changes of parotid gland in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia rat model and to investigate the (protecting and treating) effect of Thymus vulgaris extract (Thyme) as a natural product.
Materials and Methods: Fifty male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group I (Control G), Group II (Thyme G): rats received Thyme (500 mg/kg body weight) for ten days, Group III (Hyperlipidemia G): rats received a single intraperitoneal dose of Triton WR1339. Group IV (Protected G): rats received Thyme for ten days and the induction of hyperlipidemia occurred on the seventh day of the experiment. Group V (Treated G): rats received Thyme 24 hours after induction and throughout the experiment. Three days after induction of hyperlipidemia, blood samples were collected to measure serum total cholesterol & triglycerides. The parotid gland was processed for histological, histochemical and immmunohistochemical studies. Morphometrical and statistical analysis were done.
Results: The hyperlipidemia rat model induced by Triton WR1339 developed acute inflammation of parotid gland leading to obvious histological findings and significant increase in the immunohistochemical markers of inflammation and fibrosis. These findings were ameliorated by thyme as a protecting agent and to a significant lesser extent as a treatment.
Concolusion: Thyme can be used as a protective agent against the parotid gland lesions caused by hyperlipidemia through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties.