title: Protective effect of aqueous saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) and crocin, its active constituent, on renal ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative damage in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation are associated with tissue injury following ischemic insult; therefore, the use of antioxidants appears rational in the improvement of kidney diseases therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of aqueous saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) and its active constituent, crocin, on oxidative stress following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cellular redox status (thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and total thiol levels) and antioxidant power (using ferric reducing/antioxidant power test) were assessed in control and ischemic groups. The left kidney was exposed to warm ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 90 min. The macerated aqueous extract of saffron (with doses of 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg, i.p.) and crocin (with doses of 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) were administrated prior to induction of ischemia. Normal saline (10 ml/kg, i.p.) was injected to control group and a sham group that did not have ischemia-reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) caused a significant increase in TBARS levels (p<0.001) and decrement in both antioxidant power (FRAP value) (p<0.05) and total thiol concentration (p<0.001) in kidney homogenate samples. In crocin pretreated groups, a reduction in TBARS levels (from 85.8 +/- 5.4 to 20.9 +/- 1.5 nmol/g tissue, p<0.001; 400 mg/kg) and elevation in antioxidant power (FRAP value) (from 3.05 +/- 0.16 to 4.15 +/- 0.16 micromol/g tissue, p<0.001; 400 mg/kg) and total thiol concentrations (from 0.38 +/- 0.03 to 0.62 +/- 0.03 mM, p<0.001; 200 mg/kg), as compared with control group, were observed. The aqueous extract also reduced lipid peroxidation products (from 85.8 +/- 5.4 to 15.9 +/- 2.6 nmol/g tissue, p<0.001; 80 mg/kg) and increased antioxidant power (from 2.98 +/- 0.11 to 5.97 +/- 0.56 micromol/g tissue, p<0.001; 80 mg/kg) in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat kidneys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study therefore suggests that the aqueous saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) and its active constituent, crocin, may be useful agents for the prevention of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced oxidative injury in rats.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran. hosseinzadehh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.forename: Hamid R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sadeghnia
authors.forename: Toktam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.forename: Aghdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danaee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027622:Crocus; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D035264:Flowers; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin