Lipid Lowering Effects of Aqueous Saffron Extract in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable and chronic diseases. The present study aimed to review the lipid lowering effects of aqueous saffron extract in diabetic rats.

Sixty diabetic rats with fasting blood glucose of over 300 mg/dl were selected as sample and divided in two groups of saffron extract and control. Group of saffron extract received 25 mg/kg daily aqueous saffron extract peritoneally for 4 weeks. Lipid profile was measured by enzymatic method with zist shimi commercial kits provided by yasa teb Company. For statistical analysis of data, Kalmogorov- Smirnov test and paired sample and independent sample t- tests (p≤0.05) were used.

Findings showed that 4 weeks saffron extract induces significant reduction in LDL, VLDL, TG and Cho of diabetic rats (p=0.001); nevertheless, it has no significant effect on HDL (p=0.07).

It is concluded that 4 weeks aqueous saffron extract has lipid lowering effect in diabetic rats.