Yigitturk Gurkan, Elbe Hulya, Cetinavci Dilan, Turkis Fulden Cantas, Bicer Yasemin, Karayakali Melike, Altinoz Eyup
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Mugla, Turkey.
Department of Histology and Embryology, Mugla Training and Research Hospital, Mugla, Turkey.
Biotech Histochem. 2025 Jul;100(5):270-278. doi: 10.1080/10520295.2025.2510214. Epub 2025 Jun 11.
This study investigated the impact of crocin, a carotenoid component of saffron, on liver damage induced by myocardial infarction (MI) in melatonin deficiency. A synthetic catecholamine called isoproterenol (ISO) was utilised to cause MI-like lesions in rats, simulating the symptoms of heart failure. Using 70 Wistar Albino rats, the following groups were established: (i) control, (ii) sham, (iii) pinealectomy (PNX), (iv) isoproterenol (85 mg/kg), (v) PNX + ISO, (vi) PNX + Crocin (30 days/50 mg/kg), and (vii) PNX + ISO + crocin. To evaluate liver damage, histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses were performed. MI significantly increased oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde and decreased antioxidant levels (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase). Crocin treatment improved oxidative stress markers compared to the untreated groups. Elevated liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase) confirmed liver injury in the ISO groups. The levels of these enzymes were not substantially changed by crocin treatment. The liver tissue from the ISO and PNX groups showed moderate-to-severe damage, including inflammation, apoptosis, and hepatocyte degeneration. Crocin treatment reduced these histopathological changes. Crocin reduced the expression of Caspase-3 and increased Ki-67 expression, suggesting its potential to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis and promote liver regeneration. Crocin treatment showed hepatoprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, liver enzyme levels, and histopathological damage. More research is required to fully understand the mechanisms of crocin's protective actions and evaluate its clinical applicability.
本研究调查了藏红花的类胡萝卜素成分西红花苷对褪黑素缺乏时心肌梗死（MI）所致肝损伤的影响。一种名为异丙肾上腺素（ISO）的合成儿茶酚胺被用于在大鼠中诱导类似MI的损伤，模拟心力衰竭症状。使用70只Wistar白化大鼠，设立了以下几组：（i）对照组，（ii）假手术组，（iii）松果体切除组（PNX），（iv）异丙肾上腺素组（85 mg/kg），（v）PNX + ISO组，（vi）PNX + 西红花苷组（30天/50 mg/kg），以及（vii）PNX + ISO + 西红花苷组。为评估肝损伤，进行了组织学、免疫组织化学和生化分析。MI显著增加了氧化应激标志物如丙二醛，并降低了抗氧化水平（谷胱甘肽、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶）。与未治疗组相比，西红花苷治疗改善了氧化应激标志物。肝酶（天冬氨酸转氨酶、丙氨酸转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶）升高证实了ISO组存在肝损伤。西红花苷治疗并未使这些酶的水平发生实质性变化。ISO组和PNX组的肝组织显示出中度至重度损伤，包括炎症、凋亡和肝细胞变性。西红花苷治疗减轻了这些组织病理学变化。西红花苷降低了Caspase-3的表达并增加了Ki-67的表达，表明其具有抑制肝细胞凋亡和促进肝再生的潜力。西红花苷治疗通过降低氧化应激、肝酶水平和组织病理学损伤显示出肝脏保护作用。需要更多研究来充分了解西红花苷保护作用的机制并评估其临床适用性。
