Possible Therapeutic Effect of Crocin on Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury in Male Albino Rats

Abstract
Background: Thioacetamide is an experimentally used hepatotoxic substance. Its hepatotoxicity is mainly due to increased cellular oxidative stress.
Aim: To evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effects of crocin on the damage induced by Thioacetamide in liver of male rats.
Methods: 50 male Wister rats were divided into 5 groups, 10 rats in each group; control group; given intraperitoneal injection of 1ml normal saline daily, thioacetamide group; received intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide in a single dose (300mg/kg), and three (Crocin + Thioacetamide) groups, received crocin in doses of 12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg respectively after thioacetamide intoxication, as in group 2. Then the animals were anaesthetized, blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture. Serum levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phos-phatase (ALP) were determined. Moreover, the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in liver tissue.
Results: Compared to control group, thioacetamide group, showed significant increase in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and tissue levels of MDA, with significant decrease in tissue GSH and GPx. Crocin treatment significantly decreased serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and tissue levels of MDA and significantly increased tissue GSH and GPx, in a dose dependant manner.
Conclusion: Crocin treatment attenuated the liver injury caused by thioacetamide and its clinical application might be a new therapeutic approach in the liver diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.