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Protective effects of citronellol on Escherichia coli septicemia-derived liver lesions in Wistar rats

  • Seyed Moein Ziaei Sistany , Fatemeh Zahra Gharib ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini
Published/Copyright: July 8, 2025

Abstract

Objectives

Indiscriminate and widespread use of antibiotics has caused resistance among infectious bacteria. Citronellol (Cit) is a monoterpene that is defined as an essential oil and is found in lemon, rosemary, oranges, and aromatic plants. This experimental study investigated the effects of Cit on the complications caused by E-coli septicemia in liver tissue in rats.

Methods

210 male Wistar rats with an approximate weight of 220 ± 20 were randomly divided into 7 groups of 30 including 1. Control group, 2. Sham group, 3. Received Cit at a dose of 100 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, 4. Received Cit at a dose of 200 mg/kg, 5. the E-coli group was administrated enteropathogenic E-coli bacteria O111 with a dose of 1 × 109 Colony-forming unit (CFU), 6. the first treatment group received E-coli and Cit at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 7. the second treatment group received E-coli and Cit at a dose of 200 mg/kg.

Results

Our findings showed that E-coli can cause a significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) indices, while in the treatment groups, these indices were significantly reduced. In addition, E-coli septicemia caused oxidative stress in the liver tissue by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and reducing Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, which both were significantly regulated in the treatment groups.

Conclusions

Our results suggested the positive effects of Cit on the septicemia caused by E-coli in the liver tissue by upregulating the antioxidant balance and protective characteristics.


Corresponding author: Prof. Fatemeh Zahra Gharib, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Bab.C., Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran, E-mail:

  1. Research ethics: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.

  2. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: No AI was employed in the process of writing this manuscript.

  5. Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-04-17
Accepted: 2025-06-23
Published Online: 2025-07-08

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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