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Effect of crocin of Crocus sativus L. on serum inflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

Mohammad Reza Aslani Open the ORCID record for Mohammad Reza Aslani [Opens in a new window] ,
Nasim Abdollahi ,
Somaieh Matin ,
Anahita Zakeri  and
Hassan Ghobadi
Mohammad Reza Aslani
Affiliation:
Lung Diseases Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Nasim Abdollahi
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
Somaieh Matin
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
Anahita Zakeri
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
Hassan Ghobadi*
Affiliation:
Lung Diseases Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
*
*Corresponding author: Dr H. Ghobadi, fax +984533262140, email [email protected]
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Abstract

Different factors, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, extracellular matrix degradation and apoptosis, affect the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a progressive disease characterised by permanent airflow limitation. Herbal supplements with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help treat certain chronic diseases. The current study aimed at investigating the preventive effects of crocin supplementation on the serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, exercise capacity and pulmonary function tests (PFT) in patients with COPD. The present prospective randomised clinical trial equally divided fifty-seven patients with COPD into a placebo and an intervention group, who respectively received a placebo and crocin (15 mg twice day for 12 weeks) as a supplement. ELISA was used to measure serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, also PFT and exercise capacity based on 6-min walking distance test (6MWD), which was performed at the beginning and end of the study. Crocin improved the results of PFT (P < 0·05) and 6-MWD (P < 0·001) and exerted preventive effects by increasing the serum levels of IL-6 in patients with COPD compared with those in the placebo group (P < 0·05). Intervention with crocin significantly lowered serum levels of TNF-α at the end of the study (P < 0·01). The present findings suggest crocin supplementation improves exercise capacity and PFT in patients with COPD by reducing serum levels of inflammatory factors.

Keywords

CrocinIL-6TNF-αCOPD management
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 130 , Issue 3 , 14 August 2023 , pp. 446 - 453
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Copyright
© Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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