Abstract

Background: Diabetes-induced oxidative stress has an essential role in hepatic dysfunction. The current study was aimed to potentiate the impact of crocin treatment on the anti-oxidant defenses system of hepatic tissue following un-controlled hyperglycemia. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups as normal, normal treated, diabetic and diabetic treated (n = 6). Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous dose of streptozotocin into tail vein (40 mg/kg). Treated animals received crocin daily for 8 weeks intraperitoneally (40 mg/kg). At the end of the 8th week, animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were collected. After tissue preparation, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrate and glutathione (GLT) contents and also catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes activities were evaluated in all experimental animals. Results: Un-controlled diabetes weakened anti-oxidant system by decreasing SOD and CAT enzymes activities and increasing MDA production. Crocin potentiated anti-oxidant defense system by increasing SOD and CAT enzymes activities and improved oxidative damage by lessening nitrate content and MDA production in hepatic tissues of diabetic animals. Conclusion: Crocin maybe a potential therapeutic candidate against diabetes-induced hepatic dysfunction by attenuating oxidative damage in the hepatic tissue.