Effect of oral administration and topical gel application of thymol and low-level laser therapy on oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers and dermatitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Unmanaged diabetes mellitus, as a chronic metabolic disease, has dangerous consequences. The consequences of diabetes can be delayed and controlled by using antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances in the food compounds. Objective: One of the main objectives of this study was to evaluate thymol administration and low-level laser therapy on the change of inflammatory and, oxidative indicators, and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes. Another aim was to study the effect of thymol oil extract on dermatitis.Methods: Thirty volunteers with type 2 diabetes and thirty healthy volunteers as controls were selected. Blood samples were taken from all subjects before the study. The diabetic group was divided into four groups: untreated, treated with low-level laser, treated with thymol (25 mg/kg/30 days) and treated with thymol and laser. Glucose, advanced glycation end products, malondialdehyde, oxidized low level laser, reactive oxygen species, peroxide hydrogen, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 alpha were measured and compared between diabetic and control groups and within diabetic groups. Thymol gel oil extract (0.5%) was studied in reduction of dermatitis in the feet of the diabetic group.Results: Thymol administration, along with low-level laser therapy, reduced levels of cytokines except for interleukin-1 alpha, total cholesterol, triglycerides, advanced glycation end products, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and oxidized low density level lipoprotein (P value < 0.05). The effect of 0.5% thymol oil as a gel on the reduction of dermatitis was not significant.Conclusion: Thymol administration and thymol gel as well as low-level laser therapy, as adjunctive methods, through the reduction of free radicals and oxidative stress can be useful in controlling and reducing the diabetes complications. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Thymol, Topical gel, Low-level laser therapy, Dermatitis