Hepatoprotective Activity of Caspian Saffron (Crocus caspius Fisch and Mey) Flowers against CCl4- Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

• Main Authors: Mohammad Shokrzadeh (Author), Hossein Bakhshi Jouybari (Author), Fereshteh Talebpour Amiri (Author), Ali Ziar (Author), Parisa Habibpour (Author), Emran Habibi* (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Iranian Society of Pharmacognosy, 2019-07-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2345-4458; 2345-5977; 10.22127/rjp.2019.89458
• Keywords: Antioxidant; carbon tetrachloride; Crocus caspius; hepatoprotective; Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441
• Source: Research Journal of Pharmacognosy, Vol 6, Iss 3, Pp 33-39 (2019)

<strong>Background and objectives</strong><em>: </em>Free radicals and other oxidants have important roles in liver cell toxicity. Some natural products are potent scavengers of oxidative agents. <em>Crocus caspius</em> is an endemic species of Caspian forest. Flowers of Crocus genus contain phenolic compound and carotenoid as antioxidant agent. This study investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of <em>Crocus caspius</em> Fisch and Mey flowers (Caspian saffron) hydro-alcoholic extract (CCFE) against acute oxidative hepatotoxicity induced by CCl₄ in mice. <strong>Methods:</strong> The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. <em>Crocus caspius</em> flowers were investigated for presence of certain phytochemicals and total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined. For evaluation of hepatoprotective activity, the BALB/c mice were pre-treated with 50, 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg, of the extract intraperitoneally for 5 days and then received CCl₄ (0.5 mL/kg, in olive oil). Liver injury was determined by serum biochemical markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione content of liver tissue and histopathological studies. <strong>Results:</strong> The phytochemical screening in Caspian saffron flowers indicated the presence of carotenoids, saponins, sterols, flavonoids, and tannins. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay (IC₅₀ 171.5 µg/mL). Pre-treatment groups with the extract demonstrated significant decrease in serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP (p<0.05) and concomitant increase in GSH content (p<0.05). Histopathological observation determined hepatocellular protective effects of the extract. <strong>Conclusion</strong><em>: </em>The results represented the protective activity of the extract against oxidative hepatotoxicity.