The Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Saffron Extract and Crocin on Ethanol Withdrawal Syndrome in Mice

The Effect of Krocina™ on Decreasing Substance User Withdrawal Syndrome, Craving, Depression and Stress: A Double-Blind Randomized Parallel Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Due to the association between substance use abstinence with some psychological syndromes, the use of herbal medicines such as Crocus sativus L. have been considered as a proper approach to controlling withdrawal syndrome. The present study aimed to identify the effect of Krocina™ in reducing withdrawal symptoms, craving, depression, stress, anxiety and durability of treatment in the detoxification period and abstinence phase.

METHODS

In a double-blind randomized parallel clinical trial, 72 opioid users passing the detoxification period who were referred to the Soroush Center during 2020, randomly categorized into the two groups. Motivational interviewing sessions and 15 mg of Krocina™ twice a day were provided for six weeks for the cases. The placebo group received pills with the same coating and motivational interviewing. Withdrawal symptoms, craving, depression, stress and anxiety were assessed at the start of the study and then weekly using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, respectively. SPSS-v16 was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Drug withdrawal symptoms and craving did not indicate a significant difference by Krocina™ intervention during the time (p > 0.05). Furthermore, depression, stress and anxiety were statistically similar between Krocina™ and placebo groups (p > 0.05). Moreover, we found similar findings between the two groups when analyzing only patients with negative urinary test (F = 0.03;p = 0.86).

CONCLUSION

Our finding rejected the effectiveness of 30 mg/day of Krocina™ for six weeks as an effective substance for decreasing withdrawal symptoms, craving, depression, anxiety and stress at the detoxification period and abstinence phase.

Clavulanic acid improves ethanol withdrawal symptoms in rats

Objective(s):

Ethanol withdrawal following chronic use, is an important challenge clinically. In this study, the effect of clavulanic acid was evaluated on the symptoms of ethanol withdrawal in rats.

Materials and Methods:

Alcohol dependence was induced by the gavage of ethanol (10% v/v, 2 g/kg), twice daily for 10 days. Clavulanic acid (10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) was administered concurrently with ethanol (sub-acute study), or a single dose after ethanol withdrawal (acute study). Six hours after the last dose of ethanol, anxiety was assessed by the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Seizure-like behavior was evaluated by a sub-convulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 25 mg/kg/IP). Locomotor activity and motor coordination were measured by the open field and rotarod tests, respectively. Lipid peroxidation marker and antioxidant content were assessed through measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), respectively.

Results:

The number of entries and time spent on the open arms of EPM decreased during the withdrawal state. Motor coordination and locomotor activity were significantly decreased. In the sub-acute study, clavulanic acid 80 mg/kg increased time spent and the number of entries to the open arms of EPM, in withdrawn animals. Both motor incoordination and locomotor activity reduction were normalized by clavulanic acid (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg). Withdrawal-induced PTZ kindling seizure was also suppressed by all of the doses. MDA increased, while GSH decreased after withdrawal. Clavulanic acid attenuated such changes.

Conclusion:

Clavulanic acid could prevent the development of alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety and seizure. Alcohol withdrawal causes oxidative stress which can be prevented by clavulanic acid.

Crocin protects cardiomyocytes against LPS-Induced inflammation

BACKGROUND

Sepsis causes organ dysfunctions via elevation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major surface molecule of most gram-negative bacteria and routinely used as a sepsis model in investigation studies. Crocin is an active compound of saffron which has different pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. In this research, the protective effect of crocin was evaluated against LPS-induced toxicity in the embryonic cardiomyocyte cell line (H9c2).

METHODS

The cells were pre-treated with different concentration of crocin (10, 20 and 40 μM) for 24 h, and then LPS was added (10 μg/ml) for another 24 h. Afterward, the percentage of cell viability and the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, PGE2, IL-1β, and IL-6), gene expression levels (TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS), and the level of nitric oxide (NO) and thiol were measured.

RESULTS

Our results showed that LPS reduced cell viability, increased the levels of cytokines, gene-expression, nitric oxide, and thiol. Crocin attenuated the LPS-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells via reducing the levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, PGE2, IL-1β, and IL-6, p < 0.001), gene expression (TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS, p < 0.001), and NO (p < 0.001), whereas increased the level of thiol content (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The observed results revealed that crocin has preventive effects on the LPS induced sepsis and its cardiac toxicity in-vitro model. Probably, these findings are related to anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of crocin. However, performing further animal studies are necessary to support the therapeutic effects of crocin in septic shock cardiac dysfunction.