The protective effect of linalool against carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Infertility related to men is a major global issue. Due to the high costs and side effects of chemical drugs, interest has shifted towards medicinal bioactive compounds. Linalool, a terpenoid found in many plants, shows potential in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigated the protective effects of linalool against CCl₄-induced testicular toxicity in rats.Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: normal control, linalool only, CCl₄ only, and linalool plus CCl₄ treatment. Linalool (25 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days, with CCl₄ given as a single dose on day 14. Forty-eight hours later, testes were collected to assess oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes.CCl₄ significantly reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and total antioxidant capacity, while increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.001). Linalool treatment significantly improved antioxidant markers (p < 0.01) and decreased MDA levels (p < 0.001) compared to the CCl₄ group. Histological analysis showed that linalool ameliorated CCl₄-induced structural damage in testicular tissue.These findings suggest linalool protects against testicular toxicity by preventing excessive free radical accumulation and subsequent oxidative damage, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for male infertility associated with oxidative stress.