Crocin attenuate Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat aorta

Crocin, a bioactive component of saffron, has many biological effects such as antioxidant property. The present study investigated the anti-hyperglycemic, anti oxidant and immunomodulatory effects of crocin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In this study, the rats were divided into the following groups of 9 animals each: control, untreated diabetic, three crocin (10, 20, 30 mg/kg/day)-treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin in rats. Streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally at a single dose of 60 mg/kg for diabetes induction. Crocin (intraperitoneal injection) was administered 3 days after streptozotocin administration; these injections were continued to the end of the study (4 weeks). At the end of the 4-week period, blood was drawn for biochemical assays and abdominal aorta was removed for detecting the inflammatory cytokines expression. Ours results showed that the crocin decreased blood glucose, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol levels significantly ( p < 0.01) and increased glutathione level, catalase and superoxide dismutases activities in the crocin–treated diabetic groups compared with the untreated groups, in a dose dependent manner ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001). On the other hand, crocin-treated diabetic rats inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines in abdominal aorta, with respect to the untreated diabetic rats. These results validate the use of crocin as a treatment against diabetes mellitus and its complications and suggest it is suitable to continue studies for its safe therapeutic use.