Neuroprotective Efficacy of Saffron Aqueous Extract on Streptozotocin-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Saffron is regarded as a mood enhancer. Moreover, ethnopharmacological research demonstrates that saffron exhibits efficacy against neurodegenerative illnesses, specifically dementia and Parkinson's disease, due to its bioactive ingredients, The purpose of this work is to assess the potential protective effect of saffron extract in alleviating induced brain damage symptoms in male rats such as myelin basic protein (MBP) and serum Phosphorylated tau-217 (p-Tau 217). The research conducts that administration of saffron aqueous extract with the three different doses (20,40 and 80 mg/kg) noteworthy decrease the levels of serum phosphorylated tau-217 and in all treated groups. Myelin basic protein significantly decreased in all treated groups. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the levels of inflammatory markers in the hippocampus tissue homogenate of all saffron treated groups when compared to the induced group. Moreover, all saffron treated groups showed a significant decrease in levels of level of gamma glutamyl transferase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), and amyloid β-Peptide (1–42) (Aβ 1–42) compared to the induced group. Supplementation with saffron crude extract (SCE) significantly attenuates the formation of Aβ plaque and p-Tau 217 in the hippocampus at different doses. In addition, SCE also counters Alzheimer -induced neuroinflammation.