Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
J Food Biochem. 2019 Aug;43(8):e12946. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.12946. Epub 2019 Jun 20.
We aimed to evaluate the effect of saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) treatment on endurance capacity, mitochondrial biogenesis, inflammation, antioxidant, and metabolic biomarkers in Wistar rats. Forty male rats were allocated equally into four groups: Saffron, Exercise and Saffron, Exercise and Placebo, and Placebo. Endurance training was accomplished on a specified rodent motor-driven treadmill. Running to fatigue test and also metabolic and molecular indices were measured after eight weeks of intervention. mtDNA copy number and NRF-1 gene expression increased significantly in the Ex + S group compared to the exercised and control group (p < 0.05). Endurance capacity time increased in the Ex + S group compared to the Ex group (p < 0.05). Malondialdehyde, CPK, AST, and IL-6 decreased and antioxidant parameters including Glutathione peroxidase and Glutathione increased in the Ex + S group compared to exercised rats (p < 0.01). Saffron enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, decreased oxidative stress, inflammation, and modulated metabolic biomarkers in exercised rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The influence of potential nutrient factors on exercise performance has reached much attention in recent years. Athletes require an appropriate sport supplement to reimburse their fatigue and improve their resilience. Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) is a well-known spice in the food trade which is quite popular around the world by giving a desirable taste to food. In an experimental study, we showed that saffron extract treatment during endurance training could improve endurance capacity by modulating several metabolic and genomic factors. Therefore, by relying on the results of this study and the positive effects of saffron published in previous studies, saffron could be added to sport beverages and supplements to enhance an athlete's performance.
我们旨在评估藏红花（Crocus Sativus L.）治疗对 Wistar 大鼠耐力能力、线粒体生物发生、炎症、抗氧化和代谢生物标志物的影响。将 40 只雄性大鼠平均分配到四组：藏红花组、运动组和藏红花组、运动组和安慰剂组、安慰剂组。耐力训练在特定的啮齿动物电动跑步机上完成。进行疲劳测试，八周干预后测量代谢和分子指标。与运动组和对照组相比，Ex+S 组的 mtDNA 拷贝数和 NRF-1 基因表达显著增加（p<0.05）。与 Ex 组相比，Ex+S 组的耐力能力时间增加（p<0.05）。与运动大鼠相比，Ex+S 组的丙二醛、CPK、AST 和 IL-6 降低，抗氧化参数包括谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽增加（p<0.01）。藏红花增强了线粒体生物发生，降低了氧化应激、炎症，并调节了运动大鼠的代谢生物标志物。实际应用：近年来，潜在营养因素对运动表现的影响受到了广泛关注。运动员需要适当的运动补充剂来补偿疲劳并提高弹性。藏红花（Crocus Sativus L.）是食品贸易中一种著名的香料，因其为食物增添了可口的味道而在全世界广受欢迎。在一项实验研究中，我们表明，在耐力训练期间使用藏红花提取物治疗可以通过调节多种代谢和基因组因素来提高耐力能力。因此，基于这项研究的结果以及之前研究中发表的藏红花的积极影响，藏红花可以添加到运动饮料和补充剂中，以提高运动员的表现。
