A Comparison of the Effect of Saffron and Crocin Extract on Sex Hormones in Male Rats with Alzheimer's Disease

Previous studies have shown that Alzheimer's disease can lead to dysfunction of sex hormones; however, consumption of antioxidant foods can prevent it. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of saffron extract and crocin on sex hormones in male rats with Alzheimer's disease.

This experimental study included 32 rats with Alzheimer's disease in four groups of 1) control 2) sham, 3) saffron and 4) crocin. Each group consisted of eight series. The third and fourth Groups received 25 mg/kg of saffron and crocin peritoneally daily for eight weeks. Serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured by ELISA. To analyze the data, the groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.

Saffron had a significant effect on increasing FSH (P=0.001), LH (P=0.002) and testosterone (P=0.001). Like saffron, crocin had a significant effect on increasing testosterone (P=0.001), however, saffron’s effect was greater on increasing testosterone than that of crocin (P=0.001).

Although crocin can improve serum testosterone levels in rats with Alzheimer's disease, saffron seems to have better effects on increasing sex hormones in Alzheimer's rats than crocin.