Assessment the effect of saffron ethanolic extract (Crocus sativus L.) onoxidative damages in aged male rat liver.

Using antioxidant nutrients may be a good diet strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress associated to agerelated disease. We assessed the changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD glutathione-S-transferase-GST, catalase-CAT) and the levels of lipid per-oxidation (Malondialdehyde -MDA) in liver and serum nitric oxide (NO) of rats 2, 10 and 20 months old, and to determine the effect of saffron on the status of selected oxidative stress. The aged rats were given intraperitoneal injection of saffron extract daily for 4-week. Data were analyzed using ANOVA-one way followed by Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. The results demonstrated that aging caused significant increase in the levels of serum NO and MDA with a reduction in the activities of SOD, GST and CAT in liver. This study showed that saffron ameliorated increased serum NO and MDA levels and decreased GST activity in liver of 20 months old rats. Therefore, saffron can be effective to protect susceptible aged liver.