Efficacy of Aqueous Extract of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Modulating Radiation-Induced Brain and Eye Retina Damage in Rats

A. Sh, Abd El-Azime; N.H., Sherif; N. A, Eltahawy

doi:10.12816/0002436

Efficacy of Aqueous Extract of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Modulating Radiation-Induced Brain and Eye Retina Damage in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Radiation Biology Departmen National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority(AEA) , Cairo, Egypt.

² Drug radiation research Department National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority(AEA) , Cairo, Egypt.

³ Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Misr University for Science and Technology

10.12816/0002436

Abstract

Background: Saffron (Crocus sativusL.)is a plant of the iris family (Iridaceae). Its stigma contains crocin, anthocyanin, carotene and lycopene which are known to have pharmacological effects on various illnesses. The aim of present study was to investigate the role of aqueous extract of saffron on the radiation-induced changes in rat (eye retina, brain) tissues and blood. Material & methods: Saffron was supplemented orally, via gavages to rats at dose of 100 mg/Kg body wt/day for 2 weeks pre-exposure to 6.5 Gy (one shot dose) of whole body gamma-irradiation. Animals were sacrificed at the 1^st day post radiation exposure.
Results: whole body gamma irradiation of rats induce oxidative stress in eye retina and brain tissues and blood identified by significant elevation in the level of malondialdhyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and protein carbonyl(PC) contents associated with significant decreases of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content. Oxidative stress was concomitant with a significant decrease in brain dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) contents. Supplemented with Saffron extract pre- irradiation have significantly reduced the severity of radiation-induced oxidative stress and catecholamines alteration in the organs under investigations.
Conclusion: Saffron exerts its modulating effect in the organs under investigations due to the presence of associated bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties.

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