Abstract

Background: Among various naturally occurring compounds which have been extracted from Crocus sativus, crocin has shown different pharmacological effects i.e. neuroprotection and anti-Tumor activity. Methods: Here, crocin effects on human T-cell leukemia cell line, MOLT-4, were evaluated. In this study, we examined the effects of 24 and 48 h of crocin treatment (50, 250 and 500 μM) on the viability of MOLT-4 cell line. Moreover, probable apoptotic/necrotic outcomes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production variations along with crocin treatment consequences on DNA, were investigated. Results: Results from MTT assay demonstrated that 48- h crocin treatment at 500 μM, significantly reduced cell viability (p < 0.01). DNA fragmentation was recorded to be significantly increased at higher doses of crocin following 24 and 48 h (p < 0.01). According to our results, while apoptosis was detected at all concentrations, necrosis detected at the highest dose, only. In comparison with control, ROS production was reduced at 50 and 250 μM. Conclusions: In accordance with previous reports, crocin exhibited mild cytotoxic effects on a leukemia cell line which might be mediated through the increase of DNA fragmentation.