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Aim: Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpenoid that is abundant in many plants, including rose, lemongrass, and lavender. As geraniol has various beneficial functions, rose oil rich in geraniol is not only used for aromatherapy but also as a supplement to promote health benefits. However, the beneficial effects of geraniol on age‐related pathologies are unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of geraniol intake on age‐related pathologies. Methods: We orally administered geraniol to aged mice (age: 24–29 months) five times a week for 4 weeks and sampled their blood and various organs. We investigated age‐related changes in the blood and organ samples. Furthermore, we treated HepG2 cells with geraniol and examined the expression level of the ALB gene and the amount of secreted albumin in vitro. Results: Geraniol significantly increased blood albumin, total cholesterol, and red blood cell counts, indicating an improvement in nutritional markers in aged mice. Geraniol also transcriptionally increased the Alb gene expression in the liver of aged mice. Furthermore, treatment with geraniol significantly upregulated the ALB gene expression and the secretion of albumin in the conditioned medium of HepG2 cells. Conclusion: Geraniol increases serum albumin levels at the transcriptional level. Geraniol intake can be an effective strategy for age‐related malnutrition. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1233–1240. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Geraniol is an acyclic monoterpene alcohol that is extracted from the essential oils of aromatic plants. Geraniol has several biological activities such as anti‐cancer, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. However, the pharmacokinetics of geraniol and its metabolites after oral administration remain unknown in mice. To investigate the pharmacokinetics, the blood concentrations were measured in C57BL/6J mice by LC‐MS/MS after oral administration of geraniol at a dose of 200 mg/kg. The Cmax for blood levels of geraniol was only 0.05 ± 0.01 μg/mL at 1 h after administration. In contrast, geranic acid, one of the geraniol metabolites, rapidly reached a peak level that was markedly higher than that of geraniol. Furthermore, the glucuronide conjugate of geraniol was detected at a higher level than geraniol. These results indicate that geraniol is rapidly converted to geranic acid or glucuronide conjugate after oral administration. Moreover, geraniol was detected in the liver and the brain, whereas 8‐hydroxygeraniol was not detected in any tissues. In contrast, geranic acid was detected in several tissues in the order of kidney > liver = lung > brain. Therefore, the metabolites of geraniol are present in the blood and tissues of mice treated with geraniol, and various pharmacological effects of geraniol may be caused by its metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]