title: Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of crocin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antihyperglycemic and protective potential of crocin, a pharmacologically active constituent of Crocus sativus L., in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats were administered crocin intraperitoneally at doses of 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg of body weight for 6 weeks. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and total thiol (SH) groups were measured in the liver and kidney at the end of 6 weeks. Under our experimental conditions, crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg was found to significantly reduce the blood glucose level in diabetic animals. In addition, there was a significant increase in TBARS levels and decreased total thiol concentrations in the liver and kidney of diabetic animals. Crocin, at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg, appears to exert an antioxidative activity demonstrated by a lowering of lipid peroxidation levels in these organs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that crocin has the hypoglycemic and antioxidative properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetes and it may be useful in the management of diabetic patients.
authors: Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Ziba
authors: Z
authors: Rajaei
authors: Mousa-Al-Reza
authors: MA
authors: Hadjzadeh
authors: Habibollah
authors: H
authors: Nemati
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Hosseini
authors: Marzieh
authors: M
authors: Ahmadi
authors: Somayeh
authors: S
authors: Shafiee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin