Investigating the effects of Crocin on pituitary-adrenal axis and thyroid hormones in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats

Due to the antioxidant effects of saffron in improving diabetes, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of crocin on pituitary-adrenal axis and thyroid hormones in diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, which was performed at Payame Noor University, 28 male rats were divided into 4 groups: control, untreatment diabetic, 2 crocin (50, 100 mg/ml, 25 days intraperitoneal injection)-treated diabetic groups. The diabetic groups obtained with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Blood sampled from the heart of the rats 25 days after the start of the experimental. Then, pituitary-adrenal axis hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, adrenocorticotropin, and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4)) were evaluated. The results were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis and LSD tests.

Crocin at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ml has led to a significant increase in cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenocorticotropin compared to the diabetic rats. Diabetes causes a significant decrease in the levels of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4). Prescribing crocin at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ml has significantly increased the level of thyroid hormones compared to the untreatment diabetic group (P<0.05). Comparing the two concentrations of crocin, the group treated with the concentration of 100 mg/ml has showed a significant increase in the studied indices compared to the group treated with 50 mg/ml of crocin. Also, crosin significantly reduced the level of glucose in diabetic rats.

Crocin can increase the level of pituitary-adrenal and thyroid hormones in diabetic male rats.