EFFECT OF GARLIC OIL ON MECHANICAL NOCICEPTION AND CATALASE ACTIVTY IN PACLITAXEL INDUCED PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIC PAIN IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER FLIES

ABSTRACT Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a prevalent and debilitating side effect of paclitaxel treatment, characterized by heightened nociceptive sensitivity and oxidative stressmediated neuronal damage. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective and analgesic potential of garlic oil in a Drosophila melanogaster model of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathic pain. Mechanical nociception was assessed through behavioral assays, while catalase ix (CAT) activity was quantified as a biomarker of oxidative stress. Although garlic oil treatment did not elicit statistically significant improvements in mechanical nociceptive thresholds, a significant augmentation in CAT activity was observed, indicating enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity. These findings suggest that garlic oil may mitigate oxidative damage associated with CIPN, albeit without directly modulating mechanical pain responses in this model. Further investigation into dose optimization, multimodal pain assessments, and mechanistic pathways is warranted to fully elucidate garlic oil’s therapeutic potential in neuropathic pain management.