Protective effects of oral crocin against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced spatial memory deficit and oxidative stress in rats

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) streptozotocin (STZ) has been shown to cause cognitive impairment, associated with free radical generation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of crocin on cognitive performance in ICV STZ-lesioned rats (3 mg/kg bilaterally, on day 1 and 3). Crocin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered for 21 consecutive days, starting 1 h prior to the first dose of STZ. Cognitive performance was assessed using Morris water maze task while the parameters of oxidative stress assessed, were malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol levels besides glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. STZ-lesioned rats showed a severe deficit in memory associated with elevated MDA levels, reduced GPx activity and total thiol content. Crocin treatment improved cognitive performance and resulted in a significant reduction in MDA levels and elevation in total thiol content and GPx activity. This study demonstrates that crocin may have beneficial effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.