Effects of saffron extract and crocin on anthropometrical, nutritional and lipid profile parameters of rats fed a high fat diet

Overweight and obesity are the most common nutritional disorders in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effects of ethanolic extracts of saffron and crocin in comparison to orlistat in animal model. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to...

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Main Authors: Mashmoul, Maryam, Azlan, Azrina, Mohd Yusof, Barakatun Nisak, Khaza'aid, Huzwah, Mohtarrudin, Norhafizah, Boroushaki, Mohammad Taher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2014
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/37390/1/Effects%20of%20saffron%20extract%20and%20crocin%20on%20anthropometrical.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/37390/
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Summary:Overweight and obesity are the most common nutritional disorders in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity effects of ethanolic extracts of saffron and crocin in comparison to orlistat in animal model. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce obesity. The saffron extracts (40 and 80 mg/kg), crocin (40 and 80 mg/kg) and orlistat (20 mg/kg) were fed to rats by mixing with high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Changes in anthropometrical, nutritional and lipid profile parameters were measured. The saffron extract significantly decreased food consumption in obese rats. Crocin (80 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease on rate of body weight gain, total fat pad and weight ratio of epididymal fat to body. Furthermore, crocin (80 mg/kg) significantly reduced plasma levels of triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) while saffron extract (40 mg/kg) showed major improvement in low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL) level as atherogenic index. These findings demonstrated the potential anti-obesity benefits of saffron extract and crocin in preclinical study.