Rasgele, Pinar G. O. C.Karaguzel, AhsenUgras, SerpilEmire, Zuhal2025-10-112025-10-1120250091-150X1573-9031https://doi.org/10.1007/s11094-025-03412-1https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12684/22064Monoterpenes are isoprene derivatives that contain conjugated double bonds and are synthesized in many plant families. In this study, the aim was to measure the protective effect of carvacrol, one of these monoterpenes, against cadmium nitrate-induced oxidative stress using parameters such as morphologic, cytogenetic, and antioxidant activity via the Allium cepa L. model. The control group was treated with distilled water, while the treatment groups were treated with low (25 ppm) and high (100 ppm) doses of carvacrol, cadmium nitrate (80 ppm), carvacrol (25 ppm) + cadmium nitrate (80 ppm), and carvacrol (100 ppm) + cadmium nitrate (80 ppm) for 96 h. Improvements were observed in the adverse effects induced by cadmium nitrate with increasing doses of carvacrol. When the MI values of carvacrol at concentrations of 25 and 100 ppm were compared with the negative control, a statistically significant increase was observed. Furthermore, the high dose (100 ppm) of carvacrol co-administered with cadmium nitrate caused a decrease in the number of abnormalities induced by cadmium nitrate. It was observed that the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased in the cadmium nitrate. However, in the samples where cadmium nitrate and carvacrol were co-administered, the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased depending on the concentration. As a result, it was determined that none of the concentrations of carvacrol had cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, and carvacrol at a concentration of 100 ppm exhibited a protective effect against the toxicity induced by cadmium nitrate.en10.1007/s11094-025-03412-1info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessheavy metalcarvacrolmitotic abnormalitysuperoxide dismutasecatalaseArticle5944364442-s2.0-105012723983WOS:001545100000001Q4Q4