Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits

Previous research has shown that natural medications pose health risks, especially in subjects with comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) administration in early and established atherosclerotic rabbits. Rabbits were given a high-cholesterol diet (H...

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Published in:PLOS ONE
Main Authors: Abd Rahim, Iman Nabilah; Kasim, Noor Alicezah Mohd; Omar, Effat; Muid, Suhaila Abdul; Nawawi, Hapizah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001143611200048
author Abd Rahim
Iman Nabilah; Kasim
Noor Alicezah Mohd; Omar
Effat; Muid
Suhaila Abdul; Nawawi
Hapizah
spellingShingle Abd Rahim
Iman Nabilah; Kasim
Noor Alicezah Mohd; Omar
Effat; Muid
Suhaila Abdul; Nawawi
Hapizah
Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
Science & Technology - Other Topics
author_facet Abd Rahim
Iman Nabilah; Kasim
Noor Alicezah Mohd; Omar
Effat; Muid
Suhaila Abdul; Nawawi
Hapizah
author_sort Abd Rahim
spelling Abd Rahim, Iman Nabilah; Kasim, Noor Alicezah Mohd; Omar, Effat; Muid, Suhaila Abdul; Nawawi, Hapizah
Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
PLOS ONE
English
Article
Previous research has shown that natural medications pose health risks, especially in subjects with comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) administration in early and established atherosclerotic rabbits. Rabbits were given a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 4 and 8 weeks to induce early and established atherosclerosis respectively, and then they were treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg/day SEE. The body weight of the animals was recorded. Blood samples were collected at baseline, pre-treatment, and post-treatment for hematological studies, lipid profiles, and biochemical profiles. Tissue specimens of the vital organs were subjected to histological examination. The above parameters were significantly altered post-intervention with 4 and 8 weeks of HCD. No significant differences in body weight were observed in all the groups post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg of SEE compared to pre-treatment. However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, serum urea, and glucose significantly decreased post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg/day SEE compared to pre-treatment in early and established atherosclerosis groups. Hematological parameters that were affected post-intervention with HCD returned to their baseline values post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg/day SEE. There was a significant improvement in the vital organs post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg SEE. SEE can safely be administered without causing harmful effects on the hematological, biochemical profiles, and vital organs. Notably, SEE exerts hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects on atherosclerotic conditions. Further clinical trials are warranted to ensure the safety of saffron administration in patients with atherosclerosis-related diseases.
PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
1932-6203

2024
19
1
10.1371/journal.pone.0295212
Science & Technology - Other Topics
gold
WOS:001143611200048
https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001143611200048
title Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
title_short Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
title_full Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
title_fullStr Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
title_full_unstemmed Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
title_sort Safety evaluation of saffron extracts in early and established atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits
container_title PLOS ONE
language English
format Article
description Previous research has shown that natural medications pose health risks, especially in subjects with comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) administration in early and established atherosclerotic rabbits. Rabbits were given a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 4 and 8 weeks to induce early and established atherosclerosis respectively, and then they were treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg/day SEE. The body weight of the animals was recorded. Blood samples were collected at baseline, pre-treatment, and post-treatment for hematological studies, lipid profiles, and biochemical profiles. Tissue specimens of the vital organs were subjected to histological examination. The above parameters were significantly altered post-intervention with 4 and 8 weeks of HCD. No significant differences in body weight were observed in all the groups post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg of SEE compared to pre-treatment. However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, serum urea, and glucose significantly decreased post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg/day SEE compared to pre-treatment in early and established atherosclerosis groups. Hematological parameters that were affected post-intervention with HCD returned to their baseline values post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg/day SEE. There was a significant improvement in the vital organs post-treatment with 50 and 100mg/kg SEE. SEE can safely be administered without causing harmful effects on the hematological, biochemical profiles, and vital organs. Notably, SEE exerts hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects on atherosclerotic conditions. Further clinical trials are warranted to ensure the safety of saffron administration in patients with atherosclerosis-related diseases.
publisher PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
issn 1932-6203

publishDate 2024
container_volume 19
container_issue 1
doi_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0295212
topic Science & Technology - Other Topics
topic_facet Science & Technology - Other Topics
accesstype gold
id WOS:001143611200048
url https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001143611200048
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