Crocin, the compound of the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L (saffron), restores doxorubicin-induced disturbances in kidney functioning, oxidative stress, inflammation, renal tissue morphology and TGF-ß signalling pathways.

Doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracycline antibiotic, is a chemotherapeutic drug for several cancer treatments. However, its clinical usage has been restricted because of severe side effects, including nephrotoxicity. This study aimed to demonstrate the possible nephroprotective effects of crocin (Cr) against Dox-induced oxidative stress, renal inflammation, renal morphology and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signalling pathways in Dox-exposed rats. Hence, the rats were injected for 15 d consecutively with saline, six different injections of Dox until the cumulative dose reached 12 mg/kg., daily Cr (40 mg/kg), and Dox + Cr combination. Cr increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), GSH content and suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress in Dox-exposed rats. Our results were confirmed by immunohistochemical findings that Cr treatment ameliorates the expressions of IL1ß and TGF-ß in Dox-induced nephrotoxicity. Conclusionally, Cr exhibits adequate nephroprotective effects against Dox-induced nephrotoxicity on rat kidney architecture and tissue function by stabilising cellular redox homeostasis, reducing renal fibrosis and suppressing inflammation.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of crocin against doxorubicin-induced myocardial toxicity in rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a well-known chemotherapeutic drug for most malignancies including breast cancer and leukemia whilst the usage of DOX is limited owing to its cardiotoxicity. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of crocin on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups: (a) control [received normal saline as a dose of 1 ml/kg by intraperitoneal injection (ip) for 15 days], (b) crocin (received crocin as a dose of 40 mg/kg/24h by ip for 15 days), (c) DOX (received DOX as a dose of 2 mg/kg/48h by ip in six injection, cumulative dose 12 mg/kg), and (d) DOX+crocin (received DOX as a dose of 2 mg/kg/48h by ip in six injection, and crocin as a dose of 40 mg/kg/24h i.p for 15 days). As compared to the controls, the results showed that DOX administration caused significant increases in lipid indices [triglyseride (TG), low-dencity lipoproteins (LDL) (p<0.001), and very low-dencity lipoproteins (VLDL) (p<0.005)], oxidative stress parameters [malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) (p<0.001)] and cardiac markers [creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (p<0.001)]. Besides, significant decreases in antioxidant defense systems [glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS) (p<0.001)] were observed. The present study also demonstrated that co-administration of crocin with DOX significantly ameliorated the lipid profile (p<0.005), cardiac markers (p<0.005), and oxidative stress indices (p<0.001) as compared to DOX group. Histopathologically, significant increase in the mean histopathological damage score (MHDS) was found in the DOX group as compared to the controls (p<0.001). In contrast, the administration of crocin with DOX alleviated MHDS in myocardium (p<0.001). Taken together, our results reveal that crocin might be a cardioprotective agent in DOX-treated patients for cancer.