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Introduction: The present study investigated for the first time, the antihyperglycemic effect of tepals and leaves of Crocus sativus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The effect of these by-products were compared with that of saffron stigma and glibenclamide. Methods: Hydroethanolic extracts (stigmas, tepals and leaves) and glibenclamide were administered orally in aqueous solution daily for 21 days. In the present study, 36 male rats were used. Six rats were used in each group. Group 1: normal control rats (N), received distilled water; group 2: diabetic control rats (D), received distilled water; group 3: treated diabetic rats (TPL), received tepal (TPL) extract; group 4: treated diabetic rats (STG), received stigma (STG) extract; group 5: treated diabetic rats (LF), received leaf (LF) extract and group 6: treated diabetic rats (GLB), received glibenclamide (GLB). Blood glucose, body weight, water intake, urine elimination, plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were evaluated. Results: The present data indicated that the tepals and stigmas extracts significantly prevented decreasing body weight and protected against elevation of water intake, urine elimination, blood glucose, plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, AST and ALT levels in treated diabetic rats as compared to untreated diabetic rats. Leaves extract significantly prevented decreasing body weight. It decreased water intake, blood glucose, plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, AST and ALT. Conclusion: Based on our data, the oral administration of tepals, stigmas and leaves extract of Crocus sativus reduces blood glucose levels and improves control of diabetes complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this study, we evaluated the antidiabetic and antidiabetogenic effect of saffron against diabetes induced by artificial dye tartrazine on normal male rats. Methods: Dried saffron was macerated for 12 hours in distilled water before usage and crude extract was used to treat male rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups consisted of 6 rats and treatment was performed daily and orally. Group-1 treated with distilled water, group-2 with tartrazine 10mg/kg followed by saffron 120mg/kg until the last day of treatment, group-3 administered with tartrazine, group-4 treated with saffron for 60 days and administered with tartrazine, group-5 with saffron for 105 days. Levels of blood glucose and body weight have been evaluated every 10 days and clinical demonstrations and metabolic parameters were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Results: Levels of blood glucose and body weight have been evaluated every 10 days and clinical demonstrations and metabolic parameters were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Results showed that treatment with tartrazine and saffron did not affect body weights, metabolic parameters but changed the blood glucose levels after 105 days of administration. The levels of glucose and creatinine were significantly increased in group-2 and group-3 compared to control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of glucose, creatinine in group4 (P>0.05). Treatment with saffron decreases creatinine level. Conclusion: The outcomes suggest that saffron has curative (antidiabetic) and protective (antidiabetogenic) effect against diabetes induced by tartrazine via reducing blood glucose level and creatinine. Therefore, it should be considered in future therapeutic researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated for the first time the antihyperlipidemic effects of crude extract of stigmas from Crocus sativus (saffron) against hyperlipidemia induced by tartrazine (synthetic dye) in normal male rats. Thirty adult male albino rats weighing about 150 - 200 g, were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) and daily treatment was given orally. Clinical biochemistry and metabolic parameters were evaluated at the end of the experiment and after 105 days. (n=6, for all groups). Our data revealed that the metabolic parameters like consumption of food and water, pH and urine volume have not been affected; also the difference between liver, right kidney and heart weight was not significant. The levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly increased in group 2 and group 3 compared to control group. There was no significant difference in the level of cholesterol and triglyceride in group 4. Treatment with saffron alone did not have any significant effects on the level of fat compared to control group. The oral administration of the crude extract of saffron revealed good hypolipidemic effects in adult male albino rats. These results suggest that aqueous saffron extract reduced plasma cholesterol and decreased triglyceride. Therefore, it could conceivably lead to suitable changes in blood lipid profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]