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Crocin protects human erythrocytes from nitrite‐induced methemoglobin formation and oxidative damage
Author(s) -
Ansari Fariheen Aisha,
Ali Shaikh Nisar,
Mahmood Riaz
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1002/cbin.10687
Subject(s) - crocin , methemoglobin , sodium nitrite , oxidative stress , chemistry , nitrite , antioxidant , biochemistry , pharmacology , crocus sativus , oxidative phosphorylation , hemoglobin , food science , traditional medicine , biology , medicine , organic chemistry , nitrate
Sodium nitrite (NaNO 2 ) is a common contaminant of drinking water and food and feed chain. Nitrite induces oxidative damage in humans and animals. In this work, we studied the protective effect of crocin, the active constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron), on NaNO 2 ‐induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. Changes in oxidative stress parameters following NaNO 2 incubation of erythrocytes in presence and absence of crocin were determined. It was found that crocin pre‐treatment significantly attenuated NaNO 2 ‐induced oxidative damage of proteins, lipids, and plasma membrane. Crocin reduced the level of methemoglobin, the primary acute effect of nitrite intoxication. It also improved the antioxidant capacity of cells and NaNO 2 ‐induced morphological changes in erythrocytes. Crocin is thus a potent protective agent against nitrite‐induced cytotoxicity.