RESUMEN
The study aimed to investigate the protective effects of crocin [Cro] against streptozotocin [STZ]-induced oxidative damage in rat striatum. Animals were randomly divided into four groups [five each]. Group 1 [sham] were treated with normal saline [2 ml/kg, p.o.]. Group 2 [STZ-lesioned or lesion] were injected with ICV-STZ [3 mg/kg bilaterally, on day 1 and 3] and treated with normal saline [2 ml/kg, p.o.] respectively, for 21 days. Group 3 [sham+Cro] were injected ICV on day 1 and 3 with artificial CSF and treated with crocin [100 mg/kg, p.o.] for 21 days. Group 4 [lesion+Cro] were injected with ICV STZ [3 mg/kg bilaterally, on day 1 and 3] and treated with crocin [100 mg/kg, p.o.] for 21 days. The homogenized striatum was used for measuring malondialdehyde [MDA], and total thiol contents besides glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activity. Crocin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in MDA concentration as compared to the STZ-lesioned rats. Moreover, crocin produced a significant elevation in total thiol content and GPx activity, as compared with STZ-lesioned group. The present findings provide evidence that crocin may have a therapeutic significance for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease [AD]