Effects of and its constituent, safranal, and pioglitazone, on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress induced by paraquat aerosol in rats.

OBJECTIVES

The effects of , safranal, and pioglitazone on aerosolized paraquat (PQ)-induced systemic changes were examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Control (Ctrl) and PQ groups of rats were exposed to saline or PQ (27 and 54 mg/m3, PQ-L and PQ-H) aerosols eight times on alternate days. Nine PQ-H groups were treated with dexamethasone (0.03 mg/kg/day, Dexa), two doses of extract (20 and 80 mg/kg/day, CS-L and CS-H), safranal (0.8 and 3.2 mg/kg/day, Saf-L and Saf-H), pioglitazone (5 and 10 mg/kg/day, Pio-L and Pio-H), and the combination of low dose of the pioglitazone and extract or safranal (Pio + CS and Pio + Saf) after the end of PQ exposure.

RESULTS

Interferon-gamma (INF-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thiol serum levels were reduced, but tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total and differential WBC were increased in both PQ groups (<0.05 to <0.001). All measured variables were improved in all treated groups (<0.05 to <0.001). The effects of high dose of C. sativus and safranal on measured parameters were higher than dexamethasone (<0.05 to <0.001). The effects of Pio + CS and Pio + Saf treatment on most variables were significantly higher than three agents alone (<0.05 to <0.001).

CONCLUSION

and safranal improved inhaled PQ-induced systemic inflammation and oxidative stress similar to those of dexamethasone and showed synergic effects with pioglitazone suggesting the possible PPARγ receptor-mediated effects of the plant and its constituent.