Saffron Extract Diminishes Learning Deficits in Brain Hypoperfusion

Current study was conducted because of a social demand to treat and prevent rising cognitive damages following oxidative stress occur due to several reasons including reduced blood supply to the brain following cerebral ischemic lesions and cardiovascular diseases. In present study Male albino rats were divided into test and control groups. In the test group saffron extract was administered daily for seven days and the other group received normal saline at the same time. Then by performing surgery، in one half of rats in each group، two common carotid arteries were ligated. The ligation reduced blood flow and made lesion in the brain. After surgery، all rats in the test group، were retaken medication for 4 days followed by assessment using behavioral morris water maze task. Test analysis showed there was a significant difference between treated and control group. Moreover،saffron extract attenuated brain hypoperfusion induced learning disorder. The results of this study showed that saffron extract treatments decreased rat cognitive defects caused by reduced brain blood flow following appearance of free oxygen radicals and oxidative damage in hippocampus area.