Article type: Original article Objective(s): Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age‐related neurodegenerative disorder. One of the hallmarks of AD is an abnormal accumulation of fibril forms of tau protein which is known as a microtubule associated protein. In this regard, inhibition of tau aggregation has been documented to be a potent therapeutic approach in AD and tauopathies. Unfor...

BACKGROUND The involvement of water-soluble carotenoids, crocins, as the main and active components of Crocus sativus L. extract in learning and memory processes has been proposed. In the present study, the effect of crocins on sporadic Alzheimer's disease induced by intracerebroventricular (icv) streptozocin (STZ) in male rats was investigated. METHODS Male adult Wistar rats (n = 90 and 260-...

OBJECTIVE Angiotensin II (Ang II), the main product of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a well-known role in cardiovascular regulation. Over-production of Ang II is one of the important underlying mechanisms of hypertension. In this study, the effect of crocin on cardiovascular responses in rats with acute hypertension induced by Ang II was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats were divided...

OBJECTIVE Crocin is a saffron constituent with a potent anti-oxidant activity. The present study investigated the effects of crocin and insulin treatments (alone or in combination) on cardiac function and pathology in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg). Thereafter, crocin (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.), s...

BACKGROUND Myocardial Injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion leads to cardiac dysfunction, tissue injury and metabolic changes. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation are accompanied by ischemia-reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the cardio protective potential effects of crocin in comparison with vitamin E on antioxidant capacity...

Microglia activation plays an important role in immune responses in the CNS including the retina. Crocin, a plant-derived carotenoid, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative capacity in models of retinal damage and degeneration. If these neuroprotective effects could be mediated by direct modulation of microglial cells is unclear. Here, we examined the ...

Gardenia fruit (fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) is used as a natural pigment resource and a Chinese traditional medicine. The white mesocarp turning orange or red that occurs during gardenia fruit maturation arises from the production and accumulation of the apocarotenoids, especially crocin-1, which is derived from carotenoid. Meanwhile, the major medical component geniposide is accumulat...

OBJECTIVES Long-term treatment with antipsychotics causes serious side effects such as tardive dyskinesia that characterized by abnormal movements in the orofacial region. Oxidative stress in the brain specific area is implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia. In this study the protective effect of crocin on haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia was evaluated. MATERIALS AND ...

Objective Aging is a multifactorial phenomenon, which attribute to different diseases and abnormalities in living systems. Oxidative stress, which is an important factor in aging, exacerbates this process via different mechanisms. Crocin (CR), one of the active components of saffron showed strong antioxidant effects. In the present study, anti-aging property of crocin was investigated in mice. ...

Although it is well established that chronic stress impairs spatial learning and memory, few studies have investigated possible ways to prevent its deleterious effects. Here, we investigated the effects of Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, and its active constituent crocin on learning and memory loss and the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus by chronic stress. Rats we...