Mechanistic insights on the effect of crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice

Abstract

Background We investigated the effect of crocin treatment on atherosclerosis and serum lipids in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice, focusing on the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α). Methods Sixty-two animals were divided into two groups and randomly allocated to crocin (100 mg/kg/day) in drinking water or no crocin. All mice were maintained on standard chow diet containing 5% fat. Crocin was initiated at the 16th week of age and continued for 16 additional weeks. At 32 weeks of age, after blood sampling for plasma lipid determination and euthanasia, proximal aorta was removed and 3 μm sections were used to measure the atherosclerotic area and determine the expression of eNOS and HIF-1α by immunohistochemistry. Results Each group consisted of 31 animals (17 males and 14 females in each group). Crocin significantly reduced the atherosclerotic area (mm2 ± SEM) in treated mice compared to controls, both in males (0.0798 ± 0.017 vs. 0.1918 ± 0.028, P < 0.002, respectively) and females (0.0986 ± 0.023 vs. 0.1765 ± 0.025, P < 0.03, respectively). eNOS expression was significantly increased in crocin-treated mice compared to controls, both in males (2.77 ± 0.24 vs. 1.50 ± 0.34, P=0.004, respectively) and females (3.41 ± 0.37 vs. 1.16 ± 0.44, P=0.003, respectively). HIF-1α expression was significantly decreased in crocin-treated mice compared to controls, both in males (21.25 ± 2.14 vs. 156.5 ± 6.67, P < 0.001, respectively) and females (35.3 ± 7.20 vs. 113.3 ± 9.0, P < 0.01, respectively). No difference was noticed in total, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol between treated and control mice. Conclusion Crocin reduces atherosclerosis possibly by modulation of eNOS and HIF-1α expression in ApoE−/− mice without affecting plasma cholesterol.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Medicine Food Homology Flower Saffron against CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice via the Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF Signaling Pathway

“…Crocetin and its Glycoside Crocin modulate VEGFR2/SRC/FAK and VEGFR2/MEK/ERK, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis to varying degrees [34]. Safranin attenuates atherosclerosis by modulating the expression of eNOS and HIF-1α in lipoprotein mice [35,36].…”