November 2015 Vol.3 No.9

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Original Research Article

Neuroprotective role of Saffron against Acrylamide-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats by Antioxidative Activity

Safaa Y. Qusti^* and Jawaher M. Al-Qahtani

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21551-42805, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding Author’s Email: safaaqusti@yahoo.com

Accepted November 08, 2015

Abstract

Acrylamide is an industrial neurotoxic chemical that has been recently found in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperature. ACR is a potent neurotoxic in human and animal models. The present study aimed to recapitulate the potential neuroprotective effect of saffron in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups served as control group, group treated orally with saffron 300mg/kg for 8 days, group treated orally with ACR 50mg/kg for 8 days, and groups treated orally with saffron for 8 days before, during or after 8 days of ACR treatment. The results indicated that treatment with ACR alone resulted in a significant increase in serum Lipid Profile, AST, ALT, CK, LDH, brain tissues of MDA, GPx and SERT accompanied with reduced in serum SOD and GST in brain tissues when compared with control group. Treatment with saffron before, during or after ACR treatment reduces or partially antagonized the effects induced by ACR towards the normal values of control. Histopathological investigation of brain tissues showed the beneficial effect of saffron on neuron damage induced by ACR. The treatment with saffron before and after acrylamide treatment partially antagonized the effects induced by ACR, and was more effective than when administration at the same time, partly through an anti oxidative mechanism.

Key words: Acrylamide, Neurotoxicity, Saffron, Serotonin transporter