title: Intake of saffron reduces γ-radiation-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice.
abstract: Saffron (SAF), the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, is commonly used for flavoring and coloring food. Studies on bioactivity of SAF have demonstrated its in vivo antioxidant activity. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of SAF intake on γ-radiation (RAD) induced (a) chromosomal damage, (b) oxidative stress in liver and brain, and (c) histopathological effects in the intestinal cells and male germ cells in mice. Freeze-dried aqueous extract of SAF was used for the experiments. Our preliminary cell-free DNA nicking assay using pBR322 DNA revealed protective effects of freeze-dried SAF extract against hydroxyl radical induced DNA damage. For the in vivo investigations, freeze-dried SAF extract in distilled water was administered by gavage (40 mg/kg b.w.) to male Swiss albino mice for six consecutive days. On the sixth day, the animals were exposed to RAD (1 or 2 Gy) and sacrificed 24 h later to collect bone marrow cells for assessing chromosomal damage by measuring micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs). Liver and brain samples from animals exposed to 2 Gy RAD were used for evaluating lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes. The testis and intestine were used for histopathological analysis. Our results demonstrated significant protective effects of SAF against RAD-induced genotoxic damage. SAF pretreatment reduced the level of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in glutathione content and activity of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. The histopathological analysis showed minimal impact of SAF on RAD-induced damage in the intestinal cells and male germ cells.
authors.affiliation: a School of Life Sciences , Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Apurva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.affiliation: a School of Life Sciences , Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053904:DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000528:radiation effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Saffron; anti-oxidant activity; micronuclei; γ-radiation