Effects of Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Compared to Atorvastatin on the Livers of Hypercholesterolemia Rat Models
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by elevated blood total cholesterol, and might induce liver inflammation. Atorvastatin as the first-line medication in hypercholesterolemia can cause side effects; Saffron has been reported to have hepatoprotective property. This study compared the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of Saffron vs. Atorvastatin on the liver of high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia male rats. Thirty-two rats were divided equally into four groups and given a high-fat diet (36 days). The third group was given Saffron (80 mg/kg of body weight/day), and the fourth group was given Atorvastatin (0.2 mg/200 g of body weight/day) from days 16-36. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 with a significance level of p<0.05. Total cholesterol (TC) between groups was significantly different at day 15 (p<0.01), while at day 37, the Atorvastatin group had a closer TC to the normal diet group than the Saffron group. Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the high-fat diet group (p<0.01) was significantly higher than that in the Saffron group (p<0.01), Atorvastatin group (p<0.01) as well as the control (p<0.01). The values of total hepatocyte degeneration, the number of inflammatory foci, and the total area width of inflammatory foci in the high-fat diet group were significantly higher than those in the Saffron group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively), than those in the Atorvastatin group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively) than in the control group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). Saffron exhibited drug-likeness potential as a natural hepatoprotective agent. Further research is needed to understand better the mechanisms underlying Saffron's protective effects.
Authors: Erlina K. Novitasari, Viskasari P. Kalanjati, Arlinda S. Prameswari, Nur A. Hasan, Abdurachman Abdurachman
Institutions: Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408982920