Protective effects of Crocin on experimental hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat

Ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) may cause metabolic and structural hepatic damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of crocin on liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. For this purpose a total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups of ten: (1) controls: including unmanipulated rats; (2) sham group: rats subjected to the surgical procedure, except for liver I/R, and given saline; (3) I/R group: rats underwent liver ischemia for 45 minutes followed by reperfusion for 45 minutes; (4) I-R/Crocin group: rats pretreated with crocin (200 mg/kg, ip). Blood samples and liver tissues were harvested from the rats, and then the rats were sacrificed. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were assayed in liver homogenates. Also liver tissue histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy. In group 4, crocin significantly (p<0.001) decreased the elevated levels of serum biomarkers of hepatic injury and significantly (p<0.001) decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the decreased values of hepatic antioxidants. Histopathological changes were significantly attenuated in crocin-treated livers. These results suggest that crocin because of its anti-oxidant potential, has protective effects against hepatic I/R injury, and is a potential therapeutic drug for ischemia reperfusion-related liver injury.