Investigation of the neuroprotective action of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in aluminum-exposed adult mice through behavioral and neurobiochemical assessment

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 52; pp. 163 - 170
• Main Authors: Linardaki, Zacharoula I., Orkoula, Malvina G., Kokkosis, Alexandros G., Lamari, Fotini N., Margarity, Marigoula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Aluminum; Aluminum - analysis; Aluminum - pharmacokinetics; Aluminum - toxicity; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Carotenoids - analysis; Carotenoids - metabolism; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Cholinesterases; Cognition - drug effects; Crocus - chemistry; Glutathione - metabolism; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Learning - drug effects; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Medical sciences; Memory; Memory - drug effects; Memory Disorders - chemically induced; Memory Disorders - drug therapy; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Monoamine oxidase; Monoamine Oxidase - metabolism; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Saffron; Toxicology; SS; AChE; ChE; Oxidative stress; ce; IL; Monoamine oxidase; Aluminum; ATCh; Memory; Cholinesterases; i.p; STL; MDA; DS; BuChE; MAO; Saffron; GSH; BuTCh; Neuroprotection; Monocotyledones; Crocus sativus; Esterases; Angiospermae; Behavior; EC 1.4.3.4; Iridaceae; Enzyme; Rodentia; Spice; Foodstuff; Aluminium; Neuroprotective agent; Amine oxidase (flavin-containing); Cholinesterase; Carboxylic ester hydrolases; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Adult animal; Hydrolases; Flavoring crop; Spermatophyta; Oxidoreductases; EC 3.1.1.8; EC 3.1.1.7
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2012.11.016

► Al intake induced memory decline in adult mice, which saffron failed to reverse. ► Crocetin, the main active metabolite of saffron, was determined in whole brain. ► Al decreased cerebral ChEs and saffron caused further reduction of AChE. ► Al induced activation of brain MAO and saffron inhibited it. ► Saffron decreased Al-induced cerebral oxidative stress. In the present study, the possible reversal effects of saffron against established aluminum (Al)-toxicity in adult mice, were investigated. Control, Al-treated (50mg AlCl3/kg/day diluted in the drinking water for 5weeks) and Al+saffron (Al-treatment as previously plus 60mg saffron extract/kg/day intraperitoneally for the last 6days), groups of male Balb-c mice were used. We assessed learning/memory, the activity of acetylcholinesterase [AChE, salt-(SS)/detergent-soluble(DS) isoforms], butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, SS/DS isoforms), monoamine oxidase (MAO-A, MAO-B), the levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), in whole brain and cerebellum. Brain Al was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, while, for the first time, crocetin, the main active metabolite of saffron, was determined in brain after intraperitoneal saffron administration by HPLC. Al intake caused memory impairment, significant decrease of AChE and BuChE activity, activation of brain MAO isoforms but inhibition of cerebellar MAO-B, significant elevation of brain MDA and significant reduction of GSH content. Although saffron extract co-administration had no effect on cognitive performance of mice, it reversed significantly the Al-induced changes in MAO activity and the levels of MDA and GSH. AChE activity was further significantly decreased in cerebral tissues of Al+saffron group. The biochemical changes support the neuroprotective potential of saffron under toxicity.