Evidence mapPaperPMID 39607899Full record

ArticleEndocrinology, diabetes & metabolism2025

Comparative Effects of Crocin and Losartan on RAGE, TGF-β, TNF-α Gene Expression and Histopathological Changes of the Liver Tissue in Rats With Diabetes.

Shahnaz Rajabi, Yaser Mohammadi, Hamid Kabiri-Rad, Mahdiyeh Rajabi-Moghaddam, Azam Rezaei Farimani

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shahnaz RajabiStudent Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Yaser MohammadiDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID 0000-0003-1819-853X
Hamid Kabiri-RadCellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Mahdiyeh Rajabi-MoghaddamDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.ORCID 0000-0002-8276-0171
Azam Rezaei FarimaniDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.ORCID 0000-0001-6823-2463

Funding

Birjand University of Medical Sciences 5786
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesAGEs, via RAGE, increase the development of hyperglycemia-induced liver damage, and blocking this axis is associated with a reduction in liver disease progression. The goal of this study was to determine how crocin and losartan influenced RAGE, TNF-α and TGF-β gene expression in diabetic rats, as well as histological changes in liver tissue. MATERIALS AND

methodsDiabetes was induced in 40 male Wistar rats using Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, IP). There were five groups of rats: diabetic and healthy groups, diabetic rats given crocin (50 mg/kg), losartan (25 mg/kg) and both (crocin + Los). Serum glucose, ALT and AST levels were measured 4 weeks later. qPCR was used to examine the TNF-α, TGF-β and RAGE gene expression in liver tissue.

resultsCrocin was found to be effective in lowering FBG in the diabetes group. The serum levels of ALT and AST decreased in all treated groups, but this decrease was significant in the crocin + Los group (p < 0.05). The relative expression of RAGE, TNF-α and TGF-β genes was significantly higher in the diabetes group compared to the healthy group. The expression of these genes decreased in groups treated with crocin and Losartan compared to the diabetes group. The highest reduction in RAGE and TGF-β gene expression was reported in those treated with crocin + Los. Histopathology results showed that the diabetes group had more bile ducts and necrosis than the healthy control group, which had no tissue changes. Hepatocyte degeneration, bile duct proliferation, inflammatory changes and hepatocyte necrosis were mild in the treated groups, but no hepatocyte necrosis was observed in the crocin + Los group.

conclusionCrocin may be a feasible therapeutic agent for treating diabetes and its symptoms when combined with pharmaceutical medications. Human research is still needed to reach clear conclusions.

Indexed as

CarotenoidsDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalLiverLosartanRats, WistarReceptor for Advanced Glycation End ProductsTransforming Growth Factor betaTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaAnimalsGene ExpressionMaleRatsCarotenoidscrocinLosartanReceptor for Advanced Glycation End ProductsTransforming Growth Factor betaTumor Necrosis Factor-alphacrocindiabetesinflammatory markersliver diseaselosartanOxidative stress

Identifiers

PMID39607899
PMCPMC11604173

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