title: Protective Effects of Crocin on Ischemia-reperfusion Induced Oxidative Stress in Comparison With Vitamin E in Isolated Rat Hearts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myocardial Injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion leads to cardiac dysfunction, tissue injury and metabolic changes. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation are accompanied by ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the cardio protective potential effects of crocin in comparison with vitamin E on antioxidant capacity in ischemia-reperfusion of isolated rat hearts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups, including: sham, control and experimental groups treated with different doses of crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg) and a combination of crocin (40 mg/kg) with vitamin E (100 mg/kg) that were administrated orally for 21 days. The heart was quickly excised, transferred to a Langendorff apparatus at constant pressure and subjected to 30 minutes of global ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Cardiac damage markers and antioxidant enzymes were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities increased and Mallon de aldehyde (MDA) decreased in animals pretreated by crocin (40 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg). Moreover, there was a significant improvement in post ischemic recovery of antioxidant capacity during reperfusion in rats receiving a combination of crocin (40 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrated the protective role of crocin on antioxidant capacity, which may partially be related to stability or amplification of antioxidant systems. Like vitamin E, crocin may be beneficial for prevention or treatment of cardiac dysfunction and myocardial infarction in patients with ischemic heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dianat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Diabetic Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmaeilizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Samarbaf-Zadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
keywords: Antioxidants; Crocin; Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury; Rats; Vitamin E