The Antioxidant Effects of Continuous Training with Crocin Consumption on Doxorubicin-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Introduction: Doxorubicin has been reported to cause liver damage, while physical exercise and crocin consumption could improve antioxidant defense. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effects of continuous training with crocin consumption on the liver tissues of doxorubicin-poisoned rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 40 rats, which were divided into five groups of eight, including unhealthy control (Dox), crocin consumption, continuous training, continuous training with crocin consumption, and healthy control (saline). For eight weeks, groups 1-4 received 2 mg/kg of doxorubicin peritoneally seven times every Friday throughout the study period. Groups 1-4 received 10 mg/kg of crocin peritoneally every day, groups three and four performed five sessions of continuous training per week, and group five were only injected with 0.9% normal saline. Results: Doxorubicin induction could significantly decrease superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while increasing malondialdehyde (MDA). Continuous training and crocin consumption could significantly increase SOD and CAT in the doxorubicin-poisoned rats (P˂0.05). However, continuous training with crocin consumption had no interactive effects on the increasing of SOD and CAT in the doxorubicin-poisoned rats (P˃0.05), while continuous training and crocin consumption could significantly reduce MDA in the doxorubicin-poisoned rats. Moreover, continuous training with crocin consumption had interactive effects on the reduction of MDA in the liver tissues of the doxorubicin-poisoned rats (P˂0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, continuous training with crocin consumption had interactive effects on the reduction of MDA in the liver tissues of doxorubicin-poisoned rats, while it had no interactive effects on the increasing of SOD and CAT.