Evaluating the effect of saffron (Crocus sativus) on prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease in mice by the "one way active avoidance learning and memory" tests

This study was conducted to examine the effects of saffron hydro-alcoholic extract on learning and memory function in mice model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study 20 ovariectomized mice were randomly and equally divided into 4 following groups: healthy control (Distilled water), AD control (D-galactose and NaNO2 solution [1]), AD prevention (saffron extract with D-galactose and NaNO₂ solution), and AD treatment (saffron extract 15 consecutive days following AD induction). All injections were administered intraperitoneally (IP) for 60 consecutive days. The cognitive functions were examined using " one way active avoidance learning and memory" test in a shuttle box apparatus [2] and the mean number of shock free trials (M.Sh.F.T.) was considered as an index for learning (1 day after the treatments), short term memory (one week after training) and long term memory (one month after training). M.Sh.F.T. for healthy control, AD control, AD prevention and AD treatment groups was 13.93±0.8667, 1.933±1.235, 9.000±2.200, 17.47±3.459, respectively in learning, 18.47±1.733, 1.933±0.5207, 11.93±1.733, 20.00±0.5292, respectively in short term memory and 19.07±2.210, 3.667±0.9684, 13.53±0.5207, 27.80±0.1155, respectively in long term memory. In all 3 sets of experiments (learning, short and long term memory), M.Sh.F.T. in AD control group was significantly less than all other groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between AD treatment and healthy control groups (p>0.05). Our findings indicate that saffron hydro-alcoholic extract prevents the induction of AD and improves the learning ability and memory recall in AD mice model.

References: [1] Hua, X. et al. (2007) Life Sci. 80:1897–1905.

[2] Das, A. et al. (2003) Indian J. Pharmacol. 35:47–50.