Document Type : Original Research
Authors
1
Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3
Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.30491/jmm.2024.1006752.1239
Abstract
Background and Aim: Stressful conditions have become integral to people's lives and are among the destructive factors affecting brain function. These conditions are often more severe and damaging in military environments. Crocin possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. However, it has limitations, such as instability in varying pH levels, rapid absorption, and low bioavailability. The aim of the study was to enhance the efficacy of crocin by encapsulating it in chitosan and utilizing it as a nanocarrier to treat the effects of chronic stress in a male rat model.
Methods: Thirty-five adults male Wistar rats (weighing between 220 and 250 grams) were randomly divided into five groups of seven each: a control group (not exposed to stress or drugs), a stress group (subjected to immobility stress), an immobility stress group receiving crocin nanoparticles (administered 180 mg/kg), a crocin group (administered 6 mg/kg), and a chitosan group (administered 160 mg/kg). The open field test was conducted to evaluate anxiety-like behaviors. Serum oxidative stress factors (GPX, MDA, and CAT) and inflammatory serum factors (IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα) were evaluated using the ELISA method. Additionally, cresyl violet and G-fab staining were performed to assess cell damage in the hippocampus.
Results: The findings of this study indicated that stress induction was associated with increased anxiety behaviors, and the administration of crocin nanoparticles can effectively improve these behavioral disorders. Crocin nanoparticles significantly reduced inflammatory factors and oxidative stress and also demonstrated substantial healing effects compared to the crocin (P<0.05) and chitosan (P<0.001) treatment groups. The results of tissue staining revealed that chronic stress significantly decreased the number of neurons in the stained areas, while the administration of crocin nanoparticles mitigated this reduction in cell count in the hippocampus, showing a significant difference compared to the crocin group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that crocin encapsulated in chitosan can overcome the limitations of low bioavailability associated with this substance and yields better results compared to the free form of crocin.
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