title: Beneficial impact of crocetin, a carotenoid from saffron, on insulin sensitivity in fructose-fed rats.
abstract: Crocetin, a unique carotenoid with potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, is a major ingredient of saffron which is used as an important spice and food colorant in various parts of the world. In the present study, the effect of crocetin on insulin resistance and its related abnormalities induced by high-fructose diet were investigated in male Wistar rats. Compared to the control rats fed on normal laboratory diet, fructose-fed rats developed a series of pathological changes including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Although having no evident effect on the body weight, fructose feeding caused a marked increase in the weight of epididymal white adipose tissue. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the expression of both protein and mRNA of adiponectin (an insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine) was observed, whereas those of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and leptin were enhanced in epididymal white adipose tissue in fructose-fed rats. These disorders were effectively normalized in crocetin-treated rats. Crocetin was also demonstrated here to alleviate free fatty acid (FFA)-induced insulin insensitivity and dysregulated mRNA expression of adiponectin, TNF-alpha and leptin in primary cultured rat adipocytes. These findings suggest the possibility of crocetin treatment as a preventive strategy of insulin resistance and related diseases. The favorable impact on adiponectin, TNF-alpha and leptin expression in white adipose tissue may be involved in the improvement of insulin sensitivity observed in crocetin-treated rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Guanglin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shuguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yabing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate; D014801:Vitamin A; D005632:Fructose; D002338:Carotenoids