Abstract

Fatemeh Nabavizadeh*, Ehsan Salimi, Zahra Sadroleslami, Seyed Morteza Karimian and Jalal Vahedian

This study was designed to investigate the effects of saffron extract on gastric acid and pepsin secretion. In this study wistar rats (n = 8) were divided into 3 groups, N-L-Nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (LNAME) + saffron and control groups. In the saffron group 100 mg/kg saffron extract was administered orally for 5 days. In the LNAME + saffron group, 40 mg/kg LNAME was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before using saffron extract. In the control group normal saline was given orally for 5 days before the experiment. Under general anesthesia with 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p) sodium thiopental, laparotomy was done and a cannula was inserted into the duodenum. Gastric content was collected by wash out technique. Basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were measured using titration and the Anson method, respectively. In this study, pentagastrin (25 µg/kg, i.p) was used as a stimulator. In the saffron group, basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions were significantly more than control group (p = 0.006, p = 0.008). But there were no significant differences in basal and stimulated acid and pepsin secretions in the LNAME + saffron and control groups. Saffron extract increased basal and stimulated gastric secretions. It seems that the saffron extract increases them via NO increment.