Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD Student, Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modaress University, Tehran, Iran
2 Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modaress University, Tehran, Iran
3 Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Emam Khomainy Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) has various biological properties. The main aim of the present research is to investigate the possible hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the saffron aqueous extract in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats. In this study, 2-5 days old neonatal male Wister rats were randomly divided into healthy and diabetic groups with or without treatment with saffron aqueous extract. Diabetic groups received i.p. injection of streptozotocin (90 mg/kg body weight). Two Diabetic groups were treated with saffron aqueous extract with two doses of 100 and 150 mg/Kg body weight. A healthy group was also treated with high-dose saffron extract as control group. The study lasted for five months. The results indicate a decrease in the mortality rate and a significant increase (P<0.001) in the body weight of diabetic rats treated with saffron aqueous extract compared to the diabetic group. Our results showed that administration of saffron aqueous extract in diabetic rats was effective in decreasing the levels of glucose, HbA1c, TG, total cholesterol, LDL and increasing HDL in the fasting serum (P<0.001). According to the results, saffron aqueous extract has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats.
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