The Protective Effect of Saffron (Crocus sativus l.) against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Toxicity in Some Organs of Albino Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 -Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Assiut University,Assiut, 71516 Egypt

2 Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Aswan University, Aswan, 81528 Egypt

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been extensively exploited in folk medicine for the treatment of a number of ailments. Free radicals propagation has been implicated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity, which is involved in lipid peroxidation (LPO). The present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of saffron on CCl4-induced injuries in some organs of rats. Thirty male albino rats were used in the current study and divided into three groups; control, CCl4 group (0.5 ml/kg body wt.) and CCl4 + saffron (20 mg/kg body wt.).  Specimens from livers, kidneys and lungs were taken for biochemical and histopathological studies. The results showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in addition to the concentration of glutathione (GSH) were decreased while malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased after CCl4 administration. Also, different morphological changes and marked expression of Bax protein were detected. Treatment with saffron extract was effectively alleviated the alterations in the biochemical markers and morphological structure of liver, kidney and lung. The present study confirms the restoration of normalcy and accredits the ameliorative role of saffron against CCl4-induced toxicity.

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