The aim of the present study was to investigate the antihyperglycemic and protective potential of crocin, a pharmacologically active constituent of Crocus sativus L., in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rats were administered crocin intraperitoneally at doses of 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg of body weight for 6 weeks. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and total thiol (SH) groups were measured in the liver and kidney at the end of 6 weeks. Under our experimental conditions, crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg was found to significantly reduce the blood glucose level in diabetic animals. In addition, there was a significant increase in TBARS levels and decreased total thiol concentrations in the liver and kidney of diabetic animals. Crocin, at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg, appears to exert an antioxidative activity demonstrated by a lowering of lipid peroxidation levels in these organs. In conclusion, our findings suggest that crocin has the hypoglycemic and antioxidative properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetes and it may be useful in the management of diabetic patients.

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