Protective effects of oral crocin against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced spatial memory deficit and oxidative stress in rats.
Intracerebroventricular (ICV) streptozotocin (STZ) has been shown to cause cognitive impairment, associated with free radical generation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of crocin on cognitive performance in ICV STZ-lesioned rats (3 mg/kg bilaterally, on day 1 and 3). Crocin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered for 21 consecutive days, starting 1h prior to the first dose of STZ. Cognitive performance was assessed using Morris water maze task while the parameters of oxidative stress assessed, were malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol levels besides glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. STZ-lesioned rats showed a severe deficit in memory associated with elevated MDA levels, reduced GPx activity and total thiol content. Crocin treatment improved cognitive performance and resulted in a significant reduction in MDA levels and elevation in total thiol content and GPx activity. This study demonstrates that crocin may have beneficial effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Physiology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
B
B
Naghizadeh
M T
MT
Mansouri
B
B
Ghorbanzadeh
Y
Y
Farbood
A
A
Sarkaki
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013311:Streptozocin; C029036:crocin; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase