Investigation of the protective effect of Linalool on rifampicin-induced oxidative damage in spleen tissue

The fact that millions of people worldwide are affected by tuberculosis and many die from this disease constitutes a significant global concern. Rifampicin (RF) is prescribed as an effective drug in the treatment of tuberculosis; however, its long-term or high-dose use can lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress (OS) and toxic effects. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether Linalool (LN), a natural antioxidant, has a protective effect against RF-induced spleen damage. LN is a monoterpene naturally found in many plants and is known for its antisedative, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory effects. In the study, 30 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: control group, solvent control group (Dimethyl sulfoxide - DMSO), RF group, LN group, and RF+LN group. For biochemical and OS parameters (HO-1, MDA, GSH) as well as histological analyses, spleen tissues and blood samples were collected. In our study, RF was observed to significantly increase MDA, HO-1, and iron levels while decreasing GSH levels. When RF and LN were administered together, significant reductions in MDA, HO-1, and iron levels, as well as significant increases in GSH levels and histological improvements, were detected. Our findings revealed that LN exhibits a protective effect by preventing RF-induced spleen tissue damage. Our results suggest that LN improves tissue damage by inhibiting RF-induced OS in the spleen through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, may be used as a supportive agent in the treatment of OS-related diseases. Keywords: Rifampicin; Oxidative Stress; Spleen; Heme Oksijenaz-1; Linalool