The Relaxant Effect of Crocin on Rat Tracheal Smooth Muscle and Its Possible Mechanisms

Crocin, a component of saffron, showed hypotensive activity which is perhaps due to vascular smooth muscle relaxant effect. The relaxant effects of saffron on tracheal smooth muscle also could be due to its constituent, crocin. In the present study, the relaxant effects of crocin and its possible mechanisms on rat tracheal smooth muscle were investigated. The relaxant effects of three cumulative concentrations of crocin (30, 60, and 120 μM) or theophylline (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mM) as positive control were examined on pre-contracted tracheal smooth muscle by methacholine or KCl in non-incubated or incubated conditions with different agents including atropine, chlorpheniramine, indomethacin, diltiazem, glibenclamide, and propranolol. In non-incubated tracheal smooth muscle, crocin showed significant relaxant effects on KCl induced muscle contraction (p < 0.001 for two higher concentrations). However, crocin did not show relaxant effect on methacholine induced tissue contraction. In incubated tissues with chlorpheniramine, indomethacin, diltiazem and propranolol, there were no significant differences in the relaxant effects of crocin between non-incubated and incubated tissues. However, the relaxant effects of crocin obtained in incubated tissues with atropine and glibenclamide were significant lower than non-incubated tracheal smooth muscle (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The EC₅₀ value obtained in incubated tissue with propranolol was significantly increased. Theophylline showed significant relaxant effect on both KCl and methacholine induced tissue contraction (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). A relatively potent relaxant effect of crocin on tracheal smooth muscle, lower than that of theophylline was shown. Muscarinic receptor blocking, potassium channels opening and ß₂-adrenoreceptors stimulation were also suggested as possible mechanisms of this effect.