title: Effects of chronic crocin treatment on desoxycorticosterone acetate (doca)-salt hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the effects of chronic administration of crocin, an active constituent of saffron, on blood pressures of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) - salt induced hypertensive rats, were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five week administration of three doses of crocin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) and spironolactone (50 mg/kg/day) in different groups of normotensive and hypertensive rats (at the end of 4 weeks treatment by DOCA-salt) was carried out and their effects on mean systolic blood pressure (MSBP) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated using tail cuff method. The duration of effect of crocin on SBP, was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that chronic administration of crocin could reduce the MSBP in DOCA salt treated rats in a dose dependent manner. Crocin did not decrease the MSBP in normotensive rats. The data also showed that antihypertensive effects of crocin did not persist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that crocin possesses antihypertensive and normalizing effect on BP in chronic administration.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imenshahidi
authors.affiliation: Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Bibi Marjan
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ayyoob
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faal
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholampoor
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mehran
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
keywords: Crocin; Crocus sativus; Saffron; Systolic blood pressure; Tail cuff