In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of carvacrol: Inhibitory effect on COX-2 catalyzed prostaglandin E-2 biosynthesisb

Possible anti-inflammatory effect of carvacrol was evaluated by in vitro cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) assay. Carvacrol inhibited production of prostaglandin E-2 catalysed by COX-2 with an IC50 value of 0.8 mu M what is practically the same concentration as the IC50 obtained for the standard inhibitors indomethacin and NS-398 with values of 0.7 mu M and 0.8 mu M, respectively. The COX-1 was inhibited approximately at the same rate (IC50 of 0.7 mu M for carvacrol), which suggests non-selective inhibition of both enzyme isoforms. The results of the study demonstrate possible anti-inflammatory potential of this compound due to the inhibition of inducible COX-2 isoform.