Effect of crocin, an active saffron constituent, on ethanol toxicity in the rat: histopathological and biochemical studies.

OBJECTIVES: The drinking of ethanol causes the wide range of clinical illness and morphological changes including hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. In the current study, the protective properties of crocin versus oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation induced by ethanol were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups consisting of 6 rats in control, ethanol (50% v/v - 5 g/kg), crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/Kg) plus ethanol, crocin 20 and 40 mg/Kg. RESULTS: The MDA level was remarkably enhanced, while the content of GSH was significantly diminished in the kidney and liver of alcoholic rat but protective groups restored the level of MDA and GSH contents. Ethanol consumption induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity as evidenced by biochemical abnormalities and histopathological damages but crocin improved them. Also, crocin restored the TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the liver. The consumption of ethanol enhanced the levels of caspase-3, -8, -9 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (mRNA and protein) but, western blot and real-time PCR data confirmed that crocin treatment prevented apoptosis induced by ethanol. CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates that crocin has protective activities against ethanol toxic effects in rat liver and kidney via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects.

Effect of saffron (stigma of Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract on ethanol toxicity in rats: A biochemical, histopathological and molecular study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is considered in the Iranian traditional medicine because of many therapeutic properties such as sedative agent, strengthen the stomach and liver, improving the uterus disorders and infectious wounds. The detoxification of alcohol was one of the most important of saffron effects in ancient medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: In the current research, the protective effects of saffron aqueous extract (Aq. Ext.) versus oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, histopathological and biochemical abnormalities induced by ethanol were evaluated. MATERIALS & METHODS: The male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups consisted of 6 rats in control (distilled water), ethanol (5 g/kg - 50% v/v), Aq. Ext. (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) plus ethanol, Aq. Ext. 80 and 160 mg/kg. Animals were treated for four weeks and at the end of treatment period, histopathological damages, biochemical markers, apoptosis, levels of MDA and GSH, TNF-α and IL-6 were evaluated. RESULTS: Ethanol induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as evidenced by histopathological damages and biochemical abnormalities. The level of MDA was significantly enhanced while GSH content was remarkably reduced in ethanol-treated rats, but protective groups restored them. Also, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were regulated by Aq. Ext. Furthermore, the effects of ethanol on histopathological and biochemical parameters were improved by Aq. Ext. The ethanol increased the expression of Bax/Bcl2 ratio, caspase-3, -8, and -9. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis proved that Aq. Ext. treatment inhibited apoptosis induced by ethanol through decreasing the Bax/Bcl2 ratio (mRNA and protein) and caspases-3, -8, and -9 levels in the kidney and liver. CONCLUSION: The results of this research demonstrated that Aq. Ext. could exert protective effects against ethanol toxicity in rat kidney and liver via antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory effects.