ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical and the long-term anti-neuropathic potentials of Crocus sativus cultivated in the University botanical garden, and explore its most bioactive compounds and their underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: Phytochemical analysis and bio-guided isolation-procedures including RP-HPLC and 1H and 13C NMR utilizing biological models of diabetes, inflammation, and diabetic-neuropathy were used. Cultivated saffron (S-RCED) and Spanish-saffron stigma (S-SP) alone or in combination with Camellia sinus (CS) were investigated. Results: The RP-HPLC analyses showed the presence of picrocrocin, crocin I, crocin II, crocin I’, crocin II’, and safranal (SAF) in both S-SP and S-RCED extracts with higher-concentrations. It had been shown that SAF was the most bioactive-compound in Crocus sativus. Both S-SP and S-RCED possessed significant (P < 0.05) anti-diabetic activities in acute (6 h), subchronic (8 d) and chronic (8 weeks) models. S-RCED had been proven with more hypoglycemic potentials when compared to S-SP and SAF. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF produced significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities against carrageenan-induced inflammatory, hyperalgesic and tactile diabetic-neuropathy models, respectively. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF elevated serum catalase, reduced glutathione, and insulin serum levels, ameliorated lipid peroxidation and HbA1c levels, and histopathologically regenerated the pancreatic beta-cells. Combinations with CS showed more significant efficacy than the single component. Conclusion: The oxidative stress reduction, insulin secretagogue, and pancreatic beta-cells regeneration potentials might be responsible for the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic neuropathy activities. Thus, the cultivated Crocus sativus might be clinically useful for protecting against many serious-disorders.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the exocrine pancreatic function in critically ill children with septic shock,sepsis and hyperlactacidemia.Methods A total of 64 critical pediatric patients were admitted from Jan 2009 to Oct 2012,and clinical and laboratory findings including pancreatic function,and histopathological features and score after autopsy were reviewed.Results (1) Compared with non-septic shock children,the pancreatic pathology score and serum lipase in septic shock group were significantly higher and serum calcium was significantly reduced (P ＜0.05) ; (2) The pancreatic histopathology score was significantly increased in patients with elevated plasma lactate ≥2 times (P ＜0.05),but there were no significant differences in serum calcium and blood amylase and lipase between patients with elevated plasma lactate level and patients with normal plasma lactate level; (3) The concentrations of serum amylase,lipase and urinary amylase were significantly increased in patients with pancreatic histopathology score ＞4 points compared with score ≤4 points patients,but there were no significant differences in above three biomarkers between patients with score ≤3 points and patients with score ＞3 points.Conclusions The pancreas is vulnerable to damage easily occurred in septic shock children especially complicated with hyperlactacidemia.The pancreatic histopathology score ＞ 4 points can be as a sensitive and reliable indicator of pancreas damage.