Immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of saffron aqueous extract (Crocus sativus L.) on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

INTRODUCTION

Crocus sativus L. (saffron) has many biological effects such as antioxidant property. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of the aqueous saffron extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the rats were divided into the following groups of 9 animals each: control, untreated diabetic, three saffron extract-treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by STZ in rats. Saffron was administered 3 days after STZ administration; these injections were continued to the end of the study (4 weeks). At the end of the 4-week period, blood was drawn for biochemical assays and the abdominal aorta was removed for detecting the inflammatory cytokines expression.

RESULTS

We found that saffron decreased blood glucose, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol levels significantly (p<0.01) and increased glutathione level, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities in the saffron-treated diabetic groups compared with the untreated groups, in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). On the other hand, saffron-treated diabetic rats inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the abdominal aorta versus the untreated diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

Our results validate the use of saffron as a treatment against diabetes mellitus and its vascular complications.