Effcts of saffron aqueous extract on depression in male Wistar rats with chronic social defeat stress

Depression, as a mental disorder, causes many complications in humans. Saffron has been suggested as one of the effective plants in treating various types of depression. The present study aims to assess the effect of the aqueous extract of saffron on depression caused by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) in rats.

To induce CSDS, male Wistar intruder rats (Weight= 220-230 g) were put in the cage of male Wistar resident rats (Weight= 280-300 g) for twelve consecutive days (20 min/day). Five minutes before exposure, the intruder rats received either saffron extract (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) or saline (1 ml/kg). After the exposure, the animals’ weight, desire for the sucrose solution, and locomotor activity were recorded. In addition, at three stages, blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital sinus of animals to evaluate the plasma corticosterone levels. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and repeated measures analysis of variance.

Animals in the stress group showed severe weight loss, decreased desire to drink sucrose solution, decreased mobility, and increased plasma corticosterone level (P<0.05). Administration of saffron aqueous extract with different doses improved these symptoms (P<0.01).

The aqueous extract of saffron can reduce depression in the animal model of CSDS through reducing corticosterone secretion in response to stress.