Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective cytotoxic agent which is used to treat malignancies and inflammatory diseases. Origanum onites (O. onites) is found throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region and has been used in traditional medicine. The essential oils (EOs) of O. onites rich in highly bioactive phytochemicals such as carvacrol (CVR) and has antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer and proapoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of CVR and O. onites-EO treatment in MTX-induced hepatorenal toxic rats' liver and kidney tissues. The bcl-2/bax ratio, glutathione (GSH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of liver and kidney tissues were evaluated in the MTX-induced rat model. Results showed that the administration of CVR or O. onites-EO significantly increased bcl-2/bax expression and GSH levels as well as reduced MDA level and MPO activity in the kidney and liver tissues of MTX-induced rat model. In conclusion, our results suggest that O. onites-EO and CVR have protective effect in MTX-induced hepatorenal toxic rats' liver and kidney tissues by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis.

The search for new drugs to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) is ongoing, with the use of herbal extracts emerging as a current research focus in this field. This study primarily intended to investigate the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Thymus longicaulis subsp. chaubardii (TLC) in vitro. Secondly, we aimed to perform an acetic acid (AA)–induced rat UC model and assess the effects of TLC extract (200 mg/kg/orally/day, during three days) using ELISA test in terms of IL‐1 β , TNF‐ α , IL‐17, IL‐10, Na ⁺ /K ⁺ ‐ATPase, TLR‐9, MMP‐3 level, caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, luminol, lucigenin, and SOD. In addition, we accomplished macroscopic and histological evaluations. Our phytochemical investigation revealed TLC contained secondary metabolites including total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total triterpenes in quite concentrated amounts. The extract demonstrated anti‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity that was 2.3 times more potent than ascorbic acid, anti‐2,2‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging activity that was 3.28 times less potent than Trolox, and antilipoxygenase Type V (LOX‐5) activity that was 1.31 times more potent than indomethacin in vitro. Due to colitis, increased luminol and lucigenin CL, TNF‐ α , IL‐1 β , IL‐17, TLR‐9, caspase‐3, caspase‐9, MMP‐3, and macroscopic and microscopic scores and decreased IL‐10, Na+/K + ‐ATPase levels in colon ameliorated with TLC and sulfasalazine (as reference drug) treatments. As a result, it can be said that TLC improves UC in rats, mainly on account of its free radical scavenging activity, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects.