ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Saffron (Crocus sativus) increases gastric acid and pepsin secretions in rats: Role of nitric oxide (NO)
Fatemeh Nabavizadeh1*, Ehsan Salimi2, Zahra Sadroleslami3, Seyed Morteza Karimian1 and Jalal Vahedian4
1Department of Physiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
2Department of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
3Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
4Department of surgery, Firuzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
Accepted 28 April, 2011
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effects of saffron extract on gastric acid and pepsin secretion. In this study wistar rats (n = 8) were divided into 3 groups, N-L-Nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (LNAME) + saffron and control groups. In the saffron group 100 mg/kg saffron extract was administered orally for 5 days. In the LNAME + saffron group, 40 mg/kg LNAME was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before using saffron extract. In the control group normal saline was given orally for 5 days before the experiment. Under general anesthesia with 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p) sodium thiopental, laparotomy was done and a cannula was inserted into the duodenum. Gastric content was collected by wash out technique. Basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were measured using titration and the Anson method, respectively. In this study, pentagastrin (25 µg/kg, i.p) was used as a stimulator. In the saffron group, basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were significantly more than control group (p = 0.006, p = 0.008). But there were no significant differences in basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions in the LNAME + saffron and control groups. Saffron extract increased basal and stimulated gastric secretions. It seems that the saffron extract increases them via NO increment.
Key words: Saffron, gastric acid secretion, pepsin secretion, NO.