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Crocin Improves Oxidative Stress in Testicular Tissues of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

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Pharmacological Properties of Plant-Derived Natural Products and Implications for Human Health

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1308))

Abstract

Crocin has been shown to have potent antioxidant properties, but its potential antioxidative effects on testicular tissue during uncontrolled diabetes is unknown. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four separate groups; normal, normal-treated, diabetic and diabetic treated (n = 6 per group). Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). Two treated groups of animals (diabetic and non-diabetic) received Crocin daily for 56 days (40 mg/kg/intraperitoneally). At the end of the 56th day, animals were sacrificed and blood and testicular tissue obtained. The level of nitrate, malondialdehyde, glutathione, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were determined. Crocin therapy moderated the increased oxidative stress in testicular tissue induced by diabetes with a significant reduction in nitrate and malondialdehyde, whilst reducing superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities in diabetes (p < 0.001), though glutathione was unaffected. Treatment by Crocin in normal rats also modestly improved parameters of oxidative stress (p < 0.05). Crocin has a protective effect on diabetes induced oxidative stress in testicular tissue in an animal model, though it is unclear if this is a direct antioxidant effect.

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Conflict of Interests

All of the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Financial Disclosure

No funding was received for this study to be performed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Habib Yaribeygi

  2. Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    Stephen L. Atkin

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    George E. Barreto

  4. Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    George E. Barreto

  5. Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  6. Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  7. School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  8. Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute (PMMHRI), Lodz, Poland

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

Authors
  1. Habib Yaribeygi
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  2. Stephen L. Atkin
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  4. Amirhossein Sahebkar
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Correspondence to Amirhossein Sahebkar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    George E. Barreto

  2. Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

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Yaribeygi, H., Atkin, S.L., Barreto, G.E., Sahebkar, A. (2021). Crocin Improves Oxidative Stress in Testicular Tissues of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. In: Barreto, G.E., Sahebkar, A. (eds) Pharmacological Properties of Plant-Derived Natural Products and Implications for Human Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1308. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64872-5_19

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