MISS OYINDAMOLA DEBORAH ABATAN

Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor widely used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has been associated with hepatotoxic side effects. The hepatotoxicity induced by imatinib has been attributed to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of hepatic enzyme activity. In response to the growing interest in natural antioxidants for liver protection, this study evaluated the hepatoprotective potential of linalool, a naturally occurring monoterpene alcohol found in essential oils, against imatinib-induced liver damage in albino mice. Thirty-five albino mice were sectioned into five experimental groups, including control, vehicle (olive oil), Imatinib-only (at doses: 400mg/kg), 400mg/kg Imatinib + 400mg/kg of Linalool, and 400mg/kg of Linalool only. Liver function biomarkers used in this study including ALT, AST, and ALP which were assayed with oxidative stress markers such as total thiol content, AOPPs, and arylesterase activity. Results showed significant elevation in liver enzymes in Imatinib-treated groups, indicating hepatocellular injury, while co-treatment with linalool markedly reduced these enzyme levels and restored near-normal histoarchitecture. Linalool showed antioxidant properties, contributing to its protective role. The linalool shows a protective effect against imatinib-induced liver toxicity, through its antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, and membrane-stabilizing mechanisms. These findings support the potential of linalool as a complementary therapeutic agent in managing drug induced hepatotoxicity.