title: The Effect of Chronic Administration of Saffron (Crocus sativus) Stigma Aqueous Extract on Systolic Blood Pressure in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crocus sativus L. (saffron), which belongs to the Iridaceae family, is widely cultivated in Iran. Cardiovascular effects of saffron has been established in some studies but the effects of chronic administration of saffron (C. sativus) stigma aqueous extract on blood pressure has not been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study the effects of saffron (C. sativus) stigma aqueous extract on blood pressure of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt induced hypertensive rats, in chronic exposure was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five weeks administration of three doses saffron aqueous extract (10, 20 and 40 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 the effect of saffron on systolic blood pressure (SBP), was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that chronic administration of saffron aqueous extract could reduce the MSBP in DOCA salt treated rats in a dose dependent manner. This compound did not decrease the MSBP in normotensive rats. The data also showed that antihypertensive effects of saffron did not persist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that saffron aqueous extract possesses antihypertensive and normalizing effect on BP in chronic administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imenshahidi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Bibi Marjan
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ayyoob
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faal
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholampoor
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mehran
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
keywords: Blood Pressure; Crocus; Desoxycorticosterone