Crocin alleviates Cadmium-induced brain and lung toxicity, restoring GLP-1 and spexin levels in rats.

Exposure to heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd) is a significant environmental health concern, leading to multi-organ toxicity, particularly affecting the brain and lungs. Cd's toxicity is largely mediated by inducing excessive oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage and dysfunction. Current interventions for heavy metal poisoning often have limitations, prompting research into natural compounds with antioxidant properties. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) and spexin (SPX) are neuropeptides with diverse physiological roles, including neuroprotection and metabolic regulation, making them potential candidates for mitigating toxicity and serving as novel biomarkers for heavy metal exposure.

Researchers investigated Crocin's protective effects against Cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced toxicity in 32 female albino Wistar rats (6-8 weeks old). Rats were divided into four groups: negative control, CdCl2-intoxicated (two successive intraperitoneal doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg body weight), Crocin-only, and CdCl2-treated rats receiving Crocin (50 mg/kg body weight, orally) for two weeks. Primary endpoints included neuromuscular coordination via hanging-wire test, biochemical markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, GSH content) in brain and lung homogenates, serum iron and phosphorus levels, and serum levels of GLP-1 and spexin. Histopathological examination of cerebellar and pulmonary tissues was also performed.

Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) exposure significantly impaired neuromuscular coordination in rats, evidenced by poor performance in the hanging-wire test. Biochemically, CdCl2 rats exhibited increased lipid peroxidation and a decline in glutathione (GSH) content in both brain and lung tissues. Furthermore, CdCl2 disrupted serum iron and phosphorus levels and caused a notable reduction in serum GLP-1 and spexin levels. Histopathological analysis revealed damage in cerebellar and pulmonary tissues. Concomitant treatment with Crocin (50 mg/kg body weight) for two weeks effectively counteracted these detrimental effects. > Crocin treatment restored muscular strength, mitigated oxidative stress markers, regulated iron and phosphorus levels, and modulated the reduced GLP-1 and spexin levels, alongside ameliorating histopathological damage in the cerebellum and lungs. These findings suggest a broad protective capacity of Crocin against CdCl2-induced multi-organ toxicity.