Effects of Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Compared to Atorvastatin on the Livers of Hypercholesterolemia Rat Models

Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by elevated blood total cholesterol, and might induce liver inflammation. Atorvastatin as the first-line medication in hypercholesterolemia can cause side effects; Saffron has been reported to have hepatoprotective property. This study compared the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of Saffron vs. Atorvastatin on the liver of high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia male rats. Thirty-two rats were divided equally into four groups and given a high-fat diet (36 days). The third group was given Saffron (80 mg/kg of body weight/day), and the fourth group was given Atorvastatin (0.2 mg/200 g of body weight/day) from days 16-36. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 with a significance level of p<0.05. Total cholesterol (TC) between groups was significantly different at day 15 (p<0.01), while at day 37, the Atorvastatin group had a closer TC to the normal diet group than the Saffron group. Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the high-fat diet group (p<0.01) was significantly higher than that in the Saffron group (p<0.01), Atorvastatin group (p<0.01) as well as the control (p<0.01). The values of total hepatocyte degeneration, the number of inflammatory foci, and the total area width of inflammatory foci in the high-fat diet group were significantly higher than those in the Saffron group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively), than those in the Atorvastatin group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively) than in the control group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). Saffron exhibited drug-likeness potential as a natural hepatoprotective agent. Further research is needed to understand better the mechanisms underlying Saffron's protective effects.