HISTOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS OF SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM CONSUMPTION OF CROCUS SATIVUS L. (SAFFRON) STIGMA TOTAL EXTRACT ON TOTAL COLITIS INDEX IN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN MALE RATS.

Background and Aim: Saffron and its active components carotenoids display antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate histological effectiveness of short- and long- term consumption of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) stigma total extract on colitis index in experimental model of Ulcerative Colitis(UC) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups as saffron , colitis, short term treatment (after acetic acid induced-colitis rats treated with 150 ppm for 6 days); long term treatment (saffron were gavaged 21 days before colitis induction and continued for 6 days after acetic acid induced-colitis). The protective dose of saffron (150 mg/kg) in this study was selected according to our previous work in which azoxymethane/DSS induced colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis model. The daily weight changes, colon macroscopic and microscopic histological changes were evaluated. Results: saffron (150 ppm) caused a significant reduction in Colitis Index , Inflammation Severity and Crypt damage severity (p<0.001) in both short term and long term treatment group and a significant differences were detected between these two group when compared with colitis group Conclusion: Saffron may be considered as the treatment and preventive choice for Ulcerative Colitis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ulcerative Colitis ، saffron ، Crocus Sativus L. ، Invivo model ، Histopathology