Authors : Daryoush Mohajeri , Bahram Amouoghli Tabrizi , Ghafour Mousavi and Mehran Mesgari
Abstract: This research was performed to characterize the hypoglycemic and pancreas-protective effect of ethanolic extract of Crocus sativus L. stigma in alloxanized diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract of Crocus sativus L. stigma was administered orally and intraperitoneally at different doses (20, 40 and 80 mg kg 1) to normal rats. The dose of 40 mg kg 1 was found to be more effective dose in IP route and it decreases Blood Glucose Level (BGL) by 33.9% in normal healthy rats after 6 h of administration. Although, oral route of C. sativus L. also caused significant reductions of blood glucose levels in healthy rats, the effect was minor. The extract administered by IP route at this dose showed an acute hypoglycemic effect in mild and severely alloxan-diabetic rats. Treatment of mild (FBG 120-250 mg dL 1) and severely (FBG 250-300 mg dL 1) diabetic rats for 14 days with the more effective dose (40 mg kg 1) reduces the fasting blood glucose by 41.4% in Mild Diabetic (MD) and 30.7% in Severely Diabetic (SD) rats. After daily treatment with the same dose (40 mg kg 1) of ethanolic saffron extract for 14 days to normal as well as MD and SD rats, the plasma insulin levels were assayed. Serum insulin level showed significant increase in diabetic rats (33.3% MD, 27.3% SD). The histopathological studies of pancreas in ethanolic extract treated diabetic groups showed a reversed damage caused by alloxan to the pancreatic islets as almost normal appearance. The findings of our study indicate the hypoglycemic and potential antihyperglycemic nature of the extract, helping in regeneration of damaged pancreas in experimental dibetes.
Daryoush Mohajeri , Bahram Amouoghli Tabrizi , Ghafour Mousavi and Mehran Mesgari , 2008. Anti-diabetic Activity of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) Stigma Ethanolic Extract in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 1102-1108.