Hepatoprotective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus tepals, stigmas and leaves on carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver injury in rats

Abstract

Introduction: The present study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of stigmas, tepals and leaves of Crocus sativus on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced liver injury in rats. Methods: Hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus (stigmas, tepals and leaves) were administrated daily for 14 days by oral gavage. In the present study, 30 male rats divided into five groups were treated as 1: normal rats gavaged with distilled water; 2: intoxicated rats gavaged with distilled water and injected with CCL4; 3: rats treated with stigmas extract and injected with CCL4; 4: rats treated with tepal extract and injected with CCL4; 5: rats treated with leaf extract and injected with CCL4. Bodyweight and the relative liver weight were determined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin direct and total, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine measured in plasma. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was quantified in liver homogenate. Results: The experimental data showed that the stigmas and tepals extracts significantly prevented weight body loss and improved the relative liver weight. They significantly protected against elevation of ALT, AST, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, LDH, ALP, creatinine and MDA. Also, they enhanced significantly total proteins and albumin compared to the CCL4 control group. Moreover, leaves reduced ALT, AST, total bilirubin, LDH and MDA significantly. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest that tepals, stigmas, and leaves extracts of Crocus sativus have hepatoprotective effects on CCL4 induced liver injury in rats.

Crocus sativus L. Stigmas, Tepals, and Leaves Ameliorate Gentamicin-Induced Renal Toxicity: A Biochemical and Histopathological Study

“…Preparation of the plant material was done using the technique outlined by Ouahhoud et al [ 8 ]. First, the stigmas and various C. sativus components were manually separated.…”

“…According to our early research, 80% ethanol was the solvent with the best biological characteristics [ 6 , 8 ]. The Ouahhoud et al [ 6 ] procedure is the one that is in use for this study.…”

“…Male Wistar rats those were nine-week-old and weighed 200–250 g were kept in the animal house of the Biology Department at the Faculty of Sciences in Oujda, Morocco, where they were subjected to a 12-hour light/dark cycle. Water and food were freely available to the rats [ 8 ].…”

“…Since ancient times, saffron has been used in many fields, including cosmetics, colorants, and medicines, although it is most commonly employed as a food flavoring and coloring ingredient [ 2 ]. Recent research have revealed the antioxidant [ 3 ], antitumor [ 4 ], antigenotoxic [ 5 ], antidiabetic [ 6 ], hepatoprotective [ 7 , 8 ], and nephroprotective [ 9 ] properties of saffron stigma. Large volumes of by-products from the manufacture of saffron are typically thrown as unwanted bio-residues [ 10 ].…”

Protective effect of Crocus sativus stamens extract on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage in rat kidney

“…Currently, C. sativus is only valued by its stigmas and much of the saffron byproducts such as tepals and stamens are not used and are usually discarded during stigma development (Sánchez-Vioque et al 2012a). Recently, some pharmacological studies have been suggested the medicinal values of saffron tepals extract and found hepatoprotective (Ouahhoud et al 2021;Omidi et al 2014), antidepressant (Akhondzadeh Basti et al 2007), anti-oxidant (Sánchez-Vioque et al 2012bWali et al 2020), and antifungal (Khoulati et al 2019) properties. Till now the medicinal properties of stamens is poorly studied.…”