Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigates the effects of Turkish rose oil (Rosa damascena) on liver damage in rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice. METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar-Albino rats were divided into three groups: Sham (control), Obstructive Jaundice (OJ), and Rose Oil treatment (RO). Obstructive jaundice was induced by bile duct ligation in the OJ and RO groups. The RO group received 100 mg/kg of oral Turkish rose oil daily for seven days. RESULTS: Biochemical analysis showed significantly elevated levels of liver and biliary injury markers, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), in the OJ group. These markers were significantly reduced in the RO group. Additionally, oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were lower in the RO group compared to the OJ group. Although levels of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were higher in the RO group, the differences were not statistically significant. Interestingly, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were unexpectedly higher in the RO group than in the OJ group, possibly due to the study duration or dosing protocol. Histopathological examination revealed significant portal inflammation, bile duct proliferation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration, necrosis, and fibrosis in the OJ group. Conversely, the RO group showed substantial reductions in these pathological features, including milder bile duct proliferation and necrosis (p<0.001). Additionally, connective tissue expansion and collagen deposition were significantly lower in the RO group compared to the OJ group. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of Turkish rose oil, previously reported in the literature, were demonstrated in this study for the first time through oral administration. The findings highlight its potential in mitigating acute liver damage caused by obstructive jaundice. However, some unexpected biochemical results (e.g., elevated CRP and MDA levels) may be attributed to the short study duration, limited sample size, and lack of dose variation. Overall, Turkish rose oil emerges as a promising natural agent with significant hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. These results suggest that it may serve as a potential therapeutic option for liver damage associated with obstructive jaundice. Further studies are warranted to investigate varying dosages, longer treatment durations, and larger sample sizes to better understand its therapeutic potential.