Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year(sorted descending) Filter | PMID Filter |
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| transcriptome wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, and expression profiling of zinc-finger transcription factors from crocus sativus l. | crocus sativus belongs to iridaceae family and is the only plant species which produces apocarotenoids like crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal in significant quantities. besides their organoleptic properties, crocus apocarotenoids have been found to possess remarkable pharmacological potential. although apocarotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been worked out to a great degree, but the mechanism that regulates the tissue and developmental stage-specific production of crocus apocarotenoids is not kn ... | 2017 | 28247040 |
| is there nothing new under the sun? the influence of herbals and pharmacopoeias on ethnobotanical traditions in albacete (spain). | this paper has two overarching aims: (1) presenting the results of studying the albacete tariff of medicines of 1526 and (2) broadly analyzing the origin and influences of medicinal traditional knowledge in the region of albacete, spain. we use historical and modern literature that may have influenced this knowledge. our primary goal was to determine the ingredients used in the pharmacy in the 16th century ce in albacete through the analysis of the tariff, and our secondary goal was to investiga ... | 2017 | 27894973 |
| review of scientific evidence of medicinal convoy plants in traditional persian medicine. | one concept used in traditional persian medicine (tpm) for multidrug therapy is that of the convoy drug (mobadregh). according to tpm texts, convoy drugs are substances (or drugs), which facilitate the access of drugs or foods to the whole body or to specific organs. this study reviewed some convoy drugs presented in tpm, their biological effects, and their probable interactions with main drugs, considering the increased absorption through inhibition of p-glycoprotein (p-gp) efflux function, bio ... | 2017 | 27041871 |
| heterologous biosynthesis and manipulation of crocetin in saccharomyces cerevisiae. | due to excellent performance in antitumor, antioxidation, antihypertension, antiatherosclerotic and antidepressant activities, crocetin, naturally exists in crocus sativus l., has great potential applications in medical and food fields. microbial production of crocetin has received increasing concern in recent years. however, only a patent from evova inc. and a report from lou et al. have illustrated the feasibility of microbial biosynthesis of crocetin, but there was no specific titer data repo ... | 2017 | 28356104 |
| a perspective on crocus sativus l. (saffron) constituent crocin: a potent water-soluble antioxidant and potential therapy for alzheimer's disease. | alzheimer's disease (ad) is the most common form of dementia, in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. several factors are thought to play roles in the development and course of ad. existing medical therapies only modestly alleviate and delay cognitive symptoms. current research has been focused on developing antibodies to remove the aggregates of amyloid-β (aβ) and tau protein. this approach has achieved removal of aβ; however, no cognitive improvement in ad p ... | 2017 | 28098452 |
| novel quantitative real-time pcr approach to determine safflower (carthamus tinctorius) adulteration in saffron (crocus sativus). | this work intended to develop dna-based methods to detect and quantify safflower as an adulterant in saffron. species-specific pcr and real-time pcr with evagreen dye targeting the its region of carthamus tinctorius l. (safflower) were successfully proposed. the assays allowed absolute and relative sensitivities of 2pg of safflower dna (∼1.4 dna copies) and 0.1% of safflower in saffron (crocus sativus l.), respectively. a normalised real-time pcr approach was also proposed in the range of 0.1-20 ... | 2017 | 28372231 |
| functional genomics of apocarotenoids in saffron: insights from chemistry, molecular biology and therapeutic applications. | saffron is considered to be the costliest spice of the world. it has been regarded as highly valued medicinal plant in ayurveda to treat various ailments. over the past few years, considerable interest has developed in saffron because of its anticancer, antimutagenic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. saffron's colour, bitter taste and aroma are its three main and peculiar characteristics, which are conferred by three chemicals namely: crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, respectively. t ... | 2017 | 28369196 |
| molecular modeling and dynamic simulation of arabidopsis thaliana carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene: a comparison with bixa orellana and crocus sativus. | carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (ccd) gene, ubiquitously found in numerous types of plants, are eminent in synthesizing the various volatile compounds (β-ionone, c13 -norisoprenoid, geranylacetone) known as apocarotenoids. these apocarotenoids have various biological functions such as volatile signals, allelopathic interaction and plant defense. in arabidopsis genome sequence, four potential ccd genes have been identified namely ccd1, ccd4, ccd7, and ccd8. these four genes give rise to diverse b ... | 2017 | 28145590 |
| is really crocus sativus as effective as citalopram in the treatment of depression? | 2017 | 28351080 | |
| assessing saffron (crocus sativus l.) adulteration with plant-derived adulterants by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics. | saffron, the dried red stigmas of the plant crocus sativus l., is well-known as one of the most important and expensive spices worldwide. it is thus highly susceptible to fraudulent practices that employ, among others, plant-derived adulterants. this study presents an application of diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (drifts) and chemometric techniques for evaluating adulteration of saffron with six characteristic adulterants of plant origin, i.e. c. sativus stamens, cal ... | 2017 | 27837871 |
| crocin attenuates kindling development and associated cognitive impairments in mice via inhibiting reactive oxygen species-mediated nf-κb activation. | crocin is a pharmacologically active carotenoid pigment mainly present in the stigmas of crocus sativus l. (iridaceae). it has been well explored in experimental animal models of cognitive impairments, depression, anxiety and epilepsy. this study was designed to understand the effect of crocin on pentylenetetrazol (ptz)-induced kindling development and its associated cognitive deficit in mouse. crocin treatment at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg p.o. doses showed a marked reduction in severity of ptz-induced ... | 2017 | 27800651 |
| geographical characterization by mae-hplc and nir methodologies and carbonic anhydrase inhibition of saffron components. | a microwave-assisted extraction method was optimised for the recovery of bioactive compounds from crocus sativus l. stigmas with the use of water/ethanol mixture. hplc-dad was employed to evaluate the extraction parameters, in particular, solvent type and volume, and the duration of the procedure. microwave-assisted extraction enhanced the recovery of the active principles, limiting extraction time and solvent waste. moreover, nir experiments were performed in order to compare spectra in pseudo- ... | 2017 | 27979284 |
| sailuotong prevents hydrogen peroxide (h₂o₂)-induced injury in ea.hy926 cells. | sailuotong (slt) is a standardised three-herb formulation consisting of panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and crocus sativus designed for the management of vascular dementia. while the latest clinical trials have demonstrated beneficial effects of slt in vascular dementia, the underlying cellular mechanisms have not been fully explored. the aim of this study was to assess the ability and mechanisms of slt to act against hydrogen peroxide (h₂o₂)-induced oxidative damage in cultured human vascular end ... | 2017 | 28067784 |
| comparative evaluation of an iso 3632 method and an hplc-dad method for safranal quantity determination in saffron. | the aim of this work was a comparison of the iso 3632 (2011) method and an hplc-dad method for safranal quantity determination in saffron. samples from different origins were analysed by uv-vis according to iso 3632 (2011) and by hplc-dad. both methods were compared, and there was no correlation between the safranal content obtained by uv-vis and hplc-dad. an over-estimation in the uv-vis experiment was observed, which was related to the cis-crocetin esters content, as well as other compounds. t ... | 2017 | 27979282 |
| protective effect of crocus sativus l. (saffron) extract on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. | ischemia/reperfusion (i/r) injury of spinal cord is leading to the paraplegia observed. in this study, we investigated the protective effect of the saffron extract on spinal cord i/r injury. | 2017 | 28392907 |
| efficacy of crocin and safranal as protective agents against genotoxic stress induced by gamma radiation, urethane and procarbazine in mice. | crocin (cro) and safranal (saf) are bioactive constituents of saffron (dried stigma of crocus sativus flower), an expensive spice with medicinal properties. aqueous extract of saffron is known for its antigenotoxic effect against environmental genotoxins/carcinogens. however, there is need to identify saffron constituents responsible for this antigenotoxic effect. the aim of our investigation was to ascertain the role of cro and saf as inhibitors of in vivo genotoxic stress. for this purpose, sw ... | 2017 | 28111973 |
| trans-crocetin improves amyloid-β degradation in monocytes from alzheimer's disease patients. | herbal medicines have been recently employed in research and clinical studies for the potential treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with alzheimer's disease (ad) and other types of dementia. the present study investigates the effect of trans-crocetin, an active constituent of crocus sativus l., to restore in vitro the reduced ability of ad patients' monocytes to degrade amyloid-β(1-42) (aβ42). cd14(+) monocytes from 22 sporadic ad patients with moderate cognitive impair ... | 2017 | 27865556 |
| nanostructured lipid dispersions for topical administration of crocin, a potent antioxidant from saffron (crocus sativus l.). | crocin, a potent antioxidant obtained from saffron, shows anticancer activity in in vivo models. unfortunately unfavorable physicochemical features compromise its use in topical therapy. the present study describes the preparation and characterization of nanostructured lipid dispersions as drug delivery systems for topical administration of crocin and the evaluation of antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of crocin once encapsulated into nanostructured lipid dispersions. nanostructured lipi ... | 2017 | 27987758 |
| intake of saffron reduces γ-radiation-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice. | saffron (saf), the dried stigmas of crocus sativus, is commonly used for flavoring and coloring food. studies on bioactivity of saf have demonstrated its in vivo antioxidant activity. the aim of our study was to assess the impact of saf intake on γ-radiation (rad) induced (a) chromosomal damage, (b) oxidative stress in liver and brain, and (c) histopathological effects in the intestinal cells and male germ cells in mice. freeze-dried aqueous extract of saf was used for the experiments. our preli ... | 2017 | 28298158 |
| toxicology effects of saffron and its constituents: a review. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) has been considered as a medicinal plant since ancient times and also widely used as food additive for its color, taste and odor. the pharmacological properties of saffron and its main constituents, crocin and safranal have been evaluated using different in vivo and in vitro models. additionally, other lines of studies have found toxicological effects of saffron. however, a comprehensive review that covers all aspects of its toxicity has not been published yet. the cu ... | 2017 | 28293386 |
| short communication: investigating the effect of saffron (crocus sativus l.) nano-sizing on its colour extraction efficiency: a preliminary study. | this study investigated the effect of saffron nano-sizing on its the colour extraction yield. the whole stigma was ball-milled at three different times (10, 20 and 100 h), immediately or with a 24 h delay was submitted to absorption test, and then the colour extraction efficiency was determined. when stigma was milled for 100 h, its particle size was reduced to less than 20 nm, as shown by sem and tem images, and its extraction efficiency was considerably increased by 19.8% as compared with the ... | 2017 | 28278645 |
| crocins, the active constituents of crocus sativus l., counteracted apomorphine-induced performance deficits in the novel object recognition task, but not novel object location task, in rats. | schizophrenia is a chronic mental disease that affects nearly 1% of the population worldwide. several lines of evidence suggest that the dopaminergic (daergic) system might be compromised in schizophrenia. specifically, the mixed dopamine (da) d1/d2 receptor agonist apomorphine induces schizophrenia-like symptoms in rodents, including disruption of memory abilities. crocins are among the active components of saffron (dried stigmas of crocus sativus l. plant) and their implication in cognition is ... | 2017 | 28216334 |
| medicinal plants targeting cardiovascular diseases in view of avicenna. | cardiovascular disease (cvd) is a spectrum of diseases involving the heart and blood vessels, and the first cause of mortality worldwide. medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years to treat cvd. in traditional persian medicine (tpm), there is a special focus on heart diseases. avicenna, a persian physician of the eleventh century compiled a book devoted to this field named "the treatise on cardiac drugs" which is a compendium of tpm knowledge on cvd. avicenna mentioned 50 cardiovascul ... | 2017 | 28215156 |
| functional characterization of csbglu12, a β-glucosidase from crocus sativus, provides insights into its role in abiotic stress through accumulation of antioxidant flavonols. | glycosylation and deglycosylation are impressive mechanisms that allow plants to regulate the biological activity of an array of secondary metabolites. although glycosylation improves solubility and renders the metabolites suitable for transport and sequestration, deglycosylation activates them to carry out biological functions. herein, we report the functional characterization of csbglu12, a β-glucosidase from crocus sativus. csbglu12 has a characteristic glucoside hydrolase 1 family (α/β)8 tri ... | 2017 | 28154174 |
| sudan dyes in adulterated saffron (crocus sativus l.): identification and quantification by (1)h nmr. | saffron, the dried red stigmas of crocus sativus l., is considered as one of the most expensive spices worldwide, and as such, it is prone to adulteration. this study introduces an nmr-based approach to identify and determine the adulteration of saffron with sudan i-iv dyes. a complete (1)h and (13)c resonance assignment for sudan i-iv, achieved by two-dimensional homonuclear and heteronuclear nmr experiments, is reported for the first time. specific different proton signals for the identificati ... | 2017 | 27664653 |
| comparative metagenomics reveal phylum level temporal and spatial changes in mycobiome of belowground parts of crocus sativus. | plant-fungal associations have been explored by routine cultivation based approaches and cultivation based approaches cannot catalogue more than 5% of fungal diversity associated with any niche. in the present study, an attempt has been made to catalogue fungal diversity associated with belowground parts i.e. rhizosphere and cormosphere, of crocus sativus (an economically important herb) during two growth stages, using cultivation independent its gene targeted approach, taking bulk soil as refer ... | 2017 | 27685092 |
| efficacy of a formulation containing serenoa repens, crocus sativus and pinus massoniana extracts in men with concomitant luts and erectile dysfunction. | the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (luts) and erectile dysfunction (ed) has received increased attention recently. this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of idiprost® gold, a product containing serenoa repens, crocus sativus and pinus massoniana bark extract (pmbe), in improving sexual function, urinary symptoms and quality of life in patients with concomitant luts and ed. | 2017 | 27583656 |
| crocin improves damage induced by nicotine on a number of reproductive parameters in male mice. | crocin, a carotenoid isolated from crocus sativus l. (saffron), is a pharmacologically active component of saffron. nicotine consumption can decrease fertility in males through induction of oxidative stress and dna damage. the aim of this study is to determine the effects of crocin on reproductive parameter damages in male mice exposed to nicotine. | 2017 | 27123203 |
| effects of crocin supplementation during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes on glutathione synthesis and cytoplasmic maturation. | crocin is an active ingredient of saffron (crocus sativus l.) and its antioxidant properties have been previously investigated. this carotenoid scavenges free radicals and stimulates glutathione (gsh) synthesis; consequently, it may protect cells against oxidative stress. the aim of this research is to protect oocytes from oxidative stress by the addition of a natural source antioxidant. | 2017 | 27123201 |
| geographical identification of saffron (crocus sativus l.) by linear discriminant analysis applied to the uv-visible spectra of aqueous extracts. | we attempted geographical classification of saffron using uv-visible spectroscopy, conventionally adopted for quality grading according to the iso normative 3632. we investigated 81 saffron samples produced in l'aquila, città della pieve, cascia, and sardinia (italy) and commercial products purchased in various supermarkets. exploratory principal component analysis applied to the uv-vis spectra of saffron aqueous extracts revealed a clear differentiation of the samples belonging to different qua ... | 2017 | 27765245 |
| evaluation of the antidepressant-like effects of acute and sub-acute administration of crocin and crocetin in mice. | the present study was designed to investigate the putative antidepressant effects of crocin and crocetin, two major active ingredients of crocus sativus l. (saffron) using mice in two different regimens of acute and sub-acute administration. | 2017 | 26468466 |
| safranal as a safe compound to mice immune system. | the aim of the present study was to investigate immunotoxic effect of safranal (saf), a main component of crocus sativus essential oil, using balb/c mice. | 2017 | 26468464 |
| safety evaluation of saffron stigma (crocus sativus l.) aqueous extract and crocin in patients with schizophrenia. | saffron is the stigma of crocus sativus l., which has the potentials to play a role in the treatment of many diseases. although many researches are now going on this precious spice, there are few data on saffron safety in human, especially in patients with chronic mental illnesses. this study aimed to evaluate the short-term safety and tolerability of both saffron and crocin (its major constituent) in adult patients with schizophrenia. | 2017 | 26468460 |
| saffron: a promising natural medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome. | metabolic syndrome is a disorder which encompasses obesity, high blood glucose, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. moreover, metabolic syndrome is considered as the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (cvd). cvd is the leading cause of mortality in the world for both men and women. several chemical drugs are available to treat metabolic risk factors, but because of the safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability and lesser side effects, nowadays herbal therapy has a ... | 2017 | 27861946 |
| saffron ethanolic extract attenuates oxidative stress, spatial learning, and memory impairments induced by local injection of ethidium bromide. | cognitive deficits have been observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (ms) because of hippocampal insults. oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of ms. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of crocus sativus l., commonly known as saffron, on learning and memory loss and the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of toxic models of ms. one week after ms induction by intrahippocampal injection of ethidium bromide (eb), animals were treated with two dose ... | 2017 | 26600849 |
| simultaneous quantification of crocetin esters and picrocrocin changes in chinese saffron by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector during 15 years of storage. | saffron, which is made up of the dried stigmas of crocus sativus l., has been successfully cultivated in china since 1970s and zhejiang province is now the largest producing area in china, but the contents of crocetin esters and picrocrocin in saffron from zhejiang province has not been determined simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography (hplc) and changes of these constituents in chinese saffron during storage for years has not been studied. | 2017 | 26246729 |
| the effects of crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents on nervous system: a review. | saffron or crocus sativus l. (c. sativus) has been widely used as a medicinal plant to promote human health, especially in asia. the main components of saffron are crocin, picrocrocin and safranal. the median lethal doses (ld50) of c. sativus are 200 mg/ml and 20.7 g/kg in vitro and in animal studies, respectively. saffron has been suggested to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of disorders including coronary artery diseases, hypertension, stomach disorders, dysmenorrhea and learning ... | 2017 | 26468457 |
| smooth muscle relaxant activity of crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents: possible mechanisms. | saffron, crocus sativus l. (c. sativus) is rich in carotenoids and used in traditional medicine for treatment of various conditions such as coughs, stomach disorders, amenorrhea, asthma and cardiovascular disorders. these therapeutic effects of the plant are suggested to be due to its relaxant effect on smooth muscles. the effect of c. sativus and its constituents on different smooth muscles and the underlying mechanisms have been studied. several studies have shown the relaxant effects of c. sa ... | 2017 | 26468456 |
| propensity of crocin to offset vipera russelli venom induced oxidative stress mediated neutrophil apoptosis: a biochemical insight. | viper envenomation results in inflammation at the bitten site as well as target organs. neutrophils and other polymorphonuclear leukocytes execute inflammation resolving mechanism and will undergo apoptosis after completing the task. however, the target specific toxins induce neutrophil apoptosis at the bitten site and in circulation prior to their function, thus reducing their number. circulating activated neutrophils are major source of inflammatory cytokines and leakage of reactive oxygen spe ... | 2016 | 25149285 |
| antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity and metabolic profiling of juices obtained from saffron (crocus sativus l.) floral by-products. | juices obtained from cold-pressed saffron (crocus sativus l.) floral by-products were evaluated as a potential source of compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. floral by-products were split in two batches for extraction 24 and 48h after flower harvesting, respectively. the in vitro anti-oxidant activity of these extracts was tested using the frap and dpph assays, and two biological models of lipid oxidation (activity in preventing cholesterol degradation and protection against cu(2 ... | 2016 | 26775939 |
| the effect of sailuotong (slt) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover pilot trial. | sailuotong (slt) is a standardised herbal medicine formula consisting of panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and crocus sativus, and has been designed to enhance cognitive and cardiovascular function. | 2016 | 26762282 |
| evidence of neuroprotective effects of saffron and crocin in a drosophila model of parkinsonism. | evidence suggests that saffron and its major bioactives exhibit significant neuromodulatory effects in various animal models. however, specific data related to their efficacy to attenuate oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in animal models of parkinson's disease (pd) are limited. hence, we investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of saffron methanolic extract (sme) and its active constituent, crocin (cr) employing a drosophila model of parkinsonism. we focussed on attenuation of rotenone (rot)- ... | 2016 | 26705857 |
| modulation of type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors by saffron in a rat model of retinal neurodegeneration. | experimental studies demonstrated that saffron (crocus sativus) given as a dietary supplement counteracts the effects of bright continuous light (bcl) exposure in the albino rat retina, preserving both morphology and function and probably acting as a regulator of programmed cell death [1]. the purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the neuroprotective effect of saffron on rat retina exposed to bcl is associated with a modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ecs). to this aim, we used e ... | 2016 | 27861558 |
| patents on therapeutic and cosmetic applications of bioactives of crocus sativus l. and their production through synthetic biology methods: a review. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) has a long history of use as a food additive and a traditional medicine for treating a number of disorders. prominent bioactives of saffron are crocin, crocetin and safranal. | 2016 | 27842483 |
| an evidence-based approach to medicinal plants for the treatment of sperm abnormalities in traditional persian medicine. | infertility is defined as inability of a sexually active couple to conceive after 1 year of regular intercourse without contraception. male factors account for 20%-50% of cases of infertility. the aim of this study was to review medicinal plants that proposed to improve sperm abnormalities in traditional persian medicine. for this purpose, pubmed, scopus, googlescholar and cochrane library were explored for medicinal plants used in traditional persian medicine for sperm abnormalities to obtain s ... | 2016 | 27681644 |
| crocin, a carotenoid component of crocus cativus, exerts inhibitory effects on l-type ca(2+) current, ca(2+) transient, and contractility in rat ventricular myocytes. | crocin, a carotenoid component of crocus sativus l. belonging to the iridaceae family, has demonstrated cardioprotective effects. to investigate the cellular mechanisms of these cardioprotective effects, here we studied the influence of crocin on l-type ca(2+)current (i(ca-l)), intracellular ca(2+) ([ca(2+)]i), and contraction of isolated rat cardiomyocytes by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and video-based edge detection and dual excitation fluorescence photomultiplier systems. croci ... | 2016 | 26674933 |
| pattern recognition analysis of chromatographic fingerprints of crocus sativus l. secondary metabolites towards source identification and quality control. | chromatographic fingerprinting is an effective methodology for authentication and quality control of herbal products. in the presented study, a chemometric strategy based on multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (mcr-als) and multivariate pattern recognition methods was used to establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms) fingerprint of saffron. for this purpose, the volatile metabolites of 17 iranian saffron samples, collected from different geographical regions, w ... | 2016 | 26922339 |
| ptr-tof-ms and hplc analysis in the characterization of saffron (crocus sativus l.) from italy and iran. | saffron samples from italy and iran were analyzed for their content in aroma and bioactive compounds with different analytical techniques. hplc was used for the identification and quantification of crocins, picrocrocin, safranal and flavonoids content, while the novel proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer was employed for the aroma compounds analysis. italian saffron turned out to be richer in total crocins and safranal contents. sample characterization was performed with an ... | 2016 | 26304322 |
| somatic embryogenesis in crocus sativus l. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) is one of the most important species in crocus genus because of its effective usage. it is not only a very expensive spice, but it has also a big ornamental plant potential. crocus species are propagated by corm and seed, and male sterility is the most important problem of this species. hence, somatic embryogenesis can be regarded as a strategic tool for the multiplication of saffron plants. in this chapter, the production of saffron corms via somatic embryogenesis is ... | 2016 | 26619871 |
| processed stigmas of crocus sativus l. imaged by maldi-based ms. | the processed, i.e. dried under certain conditions, stigmas of crocus sativus l. are one of the most expensive plant parts used commercially. for the color, aroma and biological activity a very complex mixture of glycolipids termed crocins are responsible. therefore studying structural composition and distribution in the commercial plant material is of great interest. we showed successfully the application of a maldi-based mass spectrometric imaging (msi) approach for stigmas towards different c ... | 2016 | 27006097 |
| constituents of saffron (crocus sativus l.) as potential candidates for the treatment of anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. | anxiety disorders and schizophrenia are common public health issues. the dried stigma of the plant crocus sativus l., (c. sativus) commonly known as saffron are used in folk medicine for various purposes. several lines of evidence suggest that c. sativus, crocins and safranal are implicated in anxiety and schizophrenia. here, i intend to critically review advances in research of these emerging molecules for the treatment of anxiety and schizophrenia, discuss their advantages over currently used ... | 2016 | 26950102 |
| de novo transcriptome assembly and comprehensive expression profiling in crocus sativus to gain insights into apocarotenoid biosynthesis. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) is commonly known as world's most expensive spice with rich source of apocarotenoids and possesses magnificent medicinal properties. to understand the molecular basis of apocarotenoid biosynthesis/accumulation, we performed transcriptome sequencing from five different tissues/organs of c. sativus using illumina platform. after comprehensive optimization of de novo transcriptome assembly, a total of 105, 269 unique transcripts (average length of 1047 bp and n50 length ... | 2016 | 26936416 |
| microencapsulation of saffron petal anthocyanins with cress seed gum compared with arabic gum through freeze drying. | in this research, encapsulation efficiency of cress seed gum (csg) as a native hydrocolloid was compared with arabic gum (ag) and maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent of 20 (m20), and 7 (m7)) for saffron (crocus sativus) petal's extract by freeze drying method. combinations of csg-m20, ag-m20, and m7-m20 with ratios of 50:50 and m20 alone (100%) were used as wall materials. a mixture of 1:5 (based on dry matter) between core (concentrated anthocyanin extract of saffron petal) and wall materials wer ... | 2016 | 26876823 |
| potential ergogenic effects of saffron. | crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron, is a rich source of carotenoids with many health benefits. the muscular strength, pulmonary function, and reaction time are vital to the athlete's performance, and this study aimed to investigate an ergogenic effect of saffron. twenty-eight nonactive and healthy male university students were randomly assigned into the saffron (n = 14) and control (n = 15) groups. the experimental group received dried saffron stigma (300 mg/day for 10 days) and the contr ... | 2016 | 26811090 |
| crocin treatment prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. | doxorubicin (dox)-induced cardiotoxicity is well-known as a serious complication of chemotherapy in patients with cancer. it is unknown whether crocin (cro), main component of crocus sativus l. (saffron), could reduce the severity of dox-induced cardiotoxicity. therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the protective impact of cro on dox-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. the rats were divided into four groups: control, dox (2mg/kg/48h, for 12days), and cro groups that receiving dox as in grou ... | 2016 | 27297631 |
| crocetin ester improves myocardial ischemia via rho/rock/nf-κb pathway. | crocetin ester (ce) is the active ingredient of crocus sativus l. stigmas and gardenia jasminoides ellis fruit. the main purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of ce on isoproterenol (iso)-induced acute myocardial ischemia (ami) through rho/rock/nf-κb pathway and explore its underlying mechanism. administration of ce (25 and 50mg/kg) could significantly reduce the serum contents of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-α), interleuki ... | 2016 | 27285672 |
| determining the most effective traits to improve saffron (crocus sativus l.) yield. | to determine the effective traits to improve saffron yield, a split plot design based on rbcd was done in mashhad region in iran for three years (2012-2014). the results showed that all traits except number of daughter corm, fresh weight of daughter corm and dry leaf weight had low general heritability. results of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation and genetic advance demonstrated that the majority of traits had a low diversity and the selection did not have any effect in improvi ... | 2016 | 27186029 |
| antimicrobial activity, synergism and inhibition of germ tube formation by crocus sativus-derived compounds against candida spp. | the limited arsenal of synthetic antifungal agents and the emergence of resistant candida strains have prompted the researchers towards the investigation of naturally occurring compounds or their semisynthetic derivatives in order to propose new innovative hit compounds or new antifungal combinations endowed with reduced toxicity. we explored the anti-candida effects, for the first time, of two bioactive compounds from crocus sativus stigmas, namely crocin 1 and safranal, and some semisynthetic ... | 2016 | 27160150 |
| crocus sativus l. versus citalopram in the treatment of major depressive disorder with anxious distress: a double-blind, controlled clinical trial. | introduction: saffron (crocus sativus l.) has demonstrated antidepressant effects in clinical studies and extensive anxiolytic effects in experimental animal models. methods: 66 patients with major depressive disorder accompanied by anxious distress were randomly assigned to receive either saffron (30 mg/day) or citalopram (40 mg/day) for 6 weeks. hamilton rating scale for depression (ham-d) and hamilton rating scale for anxiety (ham-a) were used to assess treatment effect during the trial. resu ... | 2016 | 27701683 |
| a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of saffron (crocus sativus l.) in the treatment of anxiety and depression. | depression and anxiety are prevalent serious psychiatric disorders. several drugs are used to treat these conditions but these are often associated with serious side effects. for this reason alternative therapies, including herbal medication such as saffron, have been proposed. we aimed to assess the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression using a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design. | 2016 | 27101556 |
| antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of crocus sativus l. and its main constituents. | crocus sativus l. (c. sativus), commonly known as saffron, is used as a food additive, preservative, and medicinal herb. traditionally, it has been used as an alternative treatment for different diseases. c. sativus' medicinal effects are related to its major constituents like crocins, crocetin, and safranal. according to the literature, c. sativus and its constituents could be considered as an effective treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, coronary artery diseases, asthma, bronchitis, col ... | 2016 | 27098287 |
| intron retention and rhythmic diel pattern regulation of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 2 during crocetin biosynthesis in saffron. | the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 2, a new member of the ccd family, catalyzes the conversion of zeaxanthin into crocetin-dialdehyde in crocus. ccd2 is expressed in flowers, being responsible for the yellow, orange and red colorations displayed by tepals and stigma. three csccd2 genes were identified in crocus sativus, the longest contains ten exons and the shorter is a truncated copy with no introns and which lacks one exon sequence. analysis of rna-seq datasets of three developmental stages ... | 2016 | 27071403 |
| potential application of machine vision technology to saffron (crocus sativus l.) quality characterization. | saffron quality characterization is an important issue in the food industry and of interest to the consumers. this paper proposes an expert system based on the application of machine vision technology for characterization of saffron and shows how it can be employed in practical usage. there is a correlation between saffron color and its geographic location of production and some chemical attributes which could be properly used for characterization of saffron quality and freshness. this may be ac ... | 2016 | 27374547 |
| efficacy of crocus sativus l. on reduction of cadmium-induced toxicity on spermatogenesis in adult rats. | cadmium is a toxic heavy metal element, which probably cause infertility by impairment in spermatogenesis. the present work aimed (i) to study the toxic effect of cadmium on spermatogenesis in rat, as well as (ii) the protective effect of crocus sativus l. on cadmium-intoxicated rats. cadmium chloride was administered intraperitoneally during 16 days at intervals of 48 h between subsequent treatments. crocus sativus l. was pre-treated in both of control and cadmium-injected rats. animals were sa ... | 2016 | 27135275 |
| geographical classification of italian saffron (crocus sativus l.) based on chemical constituents determined by high-performance liquid-chromatography and by using linear discriminant analysis. | one hundred and forty-four italian saffron samples produced in the years from 2009 to 2015 in five distinct areas located in four different regions, abruzzo (l'aquila), tuscany (florence), umbria (cascia and città della pieve) and sardinia, have been analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. intensities of the chromatographic peaks attributed to crocins, safranal, picrocrocin and its derivatives and flavonoids were considered as variables in linear discrimina ... | 2016 | 27374513 |
| crocin protects human erythrocytes from nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation and oxidative damage. | sodium nitrite (nano2 ) is a common contaminant of drinking water and food and feed chain. nitrite induces oxidative damage in humans and animals. in this work, we studied the protective effect of crocin, the active constituent of crocus sativus (saffron), on nano2 -induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. changes in oxidative stress parameters following nano2 incubation of erythrocytes in presence and absence of crocin were determined. it was found that crocin pre-treatment significantly ... | 2016 | 27680892 |
| protective effect of crocin against apoptosis induced by subchronic exposure of the rat vascular system to diazinon. | research has suggested that natural antioxidant, crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, may protect against diazinon (dzn)-induced toxicity. although increased production of lipid peroxidation by dzn in rat aorta has been shown previously, the effects of dzn on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in vascular system have not been evaluated. in this study, the effect of crocin on dzn-induced apoptosis in rat vascular system was investigated. the rats were divided into 7 groups: corn oil (control) ... | 2016 | 27353299 |
| neuroprotective activities of saffron and crocin. | we first considered that saffron is really safety food because it has a long-use history. the neuroprotective activities of saffron and its major constituent, crocin, are separately discussed in vitro and in vivo. we reviewed the inhibitory activities of crocin against pc-12 cell apoptosis. the oxidative stress decreased the cellular levels of glutathione (gsh) which is an inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase (n-smase). therefore, the level of gsh was assayed by the addition of crocin resulted ... | 2016 | 27651258 |
| tissue-engineered regeneration of hemisected spinal cord using human endometrial stem cells, poly ε-caprolactone scaffolds, and crocin as a neuroprotective agent. | loss of motor and sensory function as a result of neuronal cell death and axonal degeneration are the hallmarks of spinal cord injury. to overcome the hurdles and achieve improved functional recovery multiple aspects, it must be taken into account. tissue engineering approaches by coalescing biomaterials and stem cells offer a promising future for treating spinal cord injury. here we investigated human endometrial stem cells (henscs) as our cell source. electrospun poly ε-caprolactone (pcl) scaf ... | 2016 | 27624387 |
| effects of saffron (crocus sativus l.) stigma extract and its active constituent crocin on neuropathic pain responses in a rat model of chronic constriction injury. | this study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of saffron (crocus sativus l.) and its main constituent crocin on neuropathic pain behavioral responses induced by chronic constriction injury (cci) in rats. adult male wistar rats (200 to 250 g) were randomly assigned into 5 groups: sham + saline, cci + saline, cci+ saffron (30 mg/kg), cci + crocin (15 mg/kg) and cci + crocin (30 mg/kg). cci was induced by applying 4 loose ligatures around the sciatic nerve. two weeks after nerve le ... | 2016 | 27610166 |
| medicinal herbs in iranian traditional medicine for learning and memory. | a few factors such as age, stress, and emotions may lead to impaired learning, memory loss, amnesia, and dementia or threats like schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease (ad). iranian traditional medicine (itm) recommends some herbs and herbal preparations for the treatment or prevention of cns problems. | 2016 | 27516676 |
| saffron (crocus sativus) pretreatment confers cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injuries in isolated rabbit heart. | restoration of blood flow to the ischemic myocardium is imperative to avoid demise of cardiomyocytes, but is paradoxically associated with irreversible damage to cardiac tissues due to the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ros). we have previously reported that saffron, a natural antioxidant, attenuated ischemia-reperfusion (ir) injuries in vitro; however, its role in a meaningful cardiac recovery remains unknown. here, we show that saffron supplement (oral administration for 6 we ... | 2016 | 27507116 |
| canadian network for mood and anxiety treatments (canmat) 2016 clinical guidelines for the management of adults with major depressive disorder: section 5. complementary and alternative medicine treatments. | the canadian network for mood and anxiety treatments (canmat) conducted a revision of the 2009 guidelines by updating the evidence and recommendations. the scope of the 2016 guidelines remains the management of major depressive disorder (mdd) in adults, with a target audience of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. | 2016 | 27486153 |
| efficacy and safety of crocus sativus l. in patients with mild cognitive impairment: one year single-blind randomized, with parallel groups, clinical trial. | there is evidence to suggest the efficacy of crocus (saffron) in the management of cognitive decline. this study examined the efficacy of crocus in patients with amnesic and multi domain mci (amcimd). the participants included 17 patients on crocus and 18 on a waiting list, who were examined with a short neuropsychological battery, mri 3t, while some patients were examined via 256-channel electroencephalogram (hd-eeg) at baseline and after 12 months. the results showed that patients on crocus ha ... | 2016 | 27472878 |
| crocetin protects ultraviolet a-induced oxidative stress and cell death in skin in vitro and in vivo. | crocetin, the aglycone of crocin, is a carotenoid found in fruits of gardenia (gardeina jasminoides ellis) and saffron (crocus sativus l.). we investigated the protective effects of crocetin against ultraviolet-a (uv-a)-induced skin damage and explored the underlying mechanism. human skin-derived fibroblasts cells (nb1-rgb) were damaged by exposure to uv-a irradiation (10j/cm(2)). crocetin protected these cells against cell death and reduced the production of reactive oxygen species induced by u ... | 2016 | 27452919 |
| therapeutic effects of saffron (crocus sativus l.) in digestive disorders: a review. | saffron, the dried red-orange stigmas of crocus sativus l, has been known as a flavoring agent, food coloring and traditional herbal medicine. pharmacological effects of saffron are mainly attributed to crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. these components especially crocin, have significant effects including antidepressant and anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-cancer and other therapeutic effects on different parts of our body namely cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, genital-urinary and ... | 2016 | 27403251 |
| medicinal plants for the treatment of asthma: a traditional persian medicine perspective. | to search major traditional persian medicine (tpm) textbooks for medicinal plants used to treat asthma. the conformity of the tpm findings on the anti-asthmatic efficacy of plants with the findings of pharmacological studies was also explored. | 2016 | 27774904 |
| protective effects of saffron extract and crocin supplementation on fatty liver tissue of high-fat diet-induced obese rats. | saffron is the dried stigma of crocus sativus l. flower which commonly used as a natural remedy to enhance health and even fights disease in the middle-east and southeast asian countries. | 2016 | 27770798 |
| rapid authentication of the precious herb saffron by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) based on internal transcribed spacer 2 (its2) sequence. | saffron is one of the most expensive species of chinese herbs and has been subjected to various types of adulteration because of its high price and limited production. the present study introduces a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) technique for the differentiation of saffron from its adulterants. this novel technique is sensitive, efficient and simple. six specific lamp primers were designed on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (its2) nuclear ... | 2016 | 27146605 |
| in silico identification of mirnas and their target genes and analysis of gene co-expression network in saffron (crocus sativus l.) stigma. | as an aromatic and colorful plant of substantive taste, saffron (crocus sativus l.) owes such properties of matter to growing class of the secondary metabolites derived from the carotenoids, apocarotenoids. regarding the critical role of micrornas in secondary metabolic synthesis and the limited number of identified mirnas in c. sativus, on the other hand, one may see the point how the characterization of mirnas along with the corresponding target genes in c. sativus might expand our perspective ... | 2016 | 28261627 |
| the effect of safranal on th1/th2 cytokine balance. | several biological and medical benefits of saffron, crocus sativus (iridaceae), have been demonstrated. however, mechanisms of actions for purified constituents are greatly unknown. | 2016 | 27999238 |
| a representative survey of knowledge, use, perceived benefits, barriers, and risks of select herbal drugs among female students in gorgan city (northeast iran). | we conducted a representative survey among young women to determine knowledge, use, and perceptions on barriers, benefits, and risks related to selected herbal drugs (crocus sativus, borago officinalis, citrus aurantium, thymus vulgaris, matricaria chamomilla, lavandula angustifolia, valeriana officinalis, hypericum perforatum, and panax ginseng) in gorgan by using an internally validated questionnaire. there were 344 participants (mean age 16.3 years; 16.2% in science course). saffron had most ... | 2016 | 26888451 |
| molecular phylogeny, diversity, community structure, and plant growth promoting properties of fungal endophytes associated with the corms of saffron plant: an insight into the microbiome of crocus sativus linn. | a total of 294 fungal endophytes were isolated from the corms of crocus sativus at two stages of crocus life cycle collected from 14 different saffron growing sites in jammu and kashmir (j & k) state, india. molecular phylogeny assigned them into 36 distinct internal transcribed spacer (its) genotypes which spread over 19 genera. the diversity of endophytes was higher at the dormant than at the vegetative stage. the saffron microbiome was dominated by phialophora mustea and cadophora malorum, bo ... | 2016 | 27890087 |
| special issue "saffron (crocus sativus, l.): omics and other techniques in authenticity, quality, and bioactivity studies". | n/a. | 2016 | 28025553 |
| crocus sativus l. protects against sds‑induced intestinal damage and extends lifespan in drosophila melanogaster. | medicinal plants are important sources of potentially therapeutic biochemical drugs. crocus sativus l. has been used to treat various diseases in china, the republic of korea and japan. the present study investigated the protective effect of c. sativus l. extract in drosophila melanogaster intestinal immunity. wild‑type flies were fed standard cornmeal‑yeast medium and used as controls, and flies supplemented with 1% c. sativus l. aqueous extract in standard medium were used as the experimental ... | 2016 | 27878268 |
| medicinal herbs in iranian traditional medicine for learning and memory. | a few factors such as age, stress, and emotions may lead to impaired learning, memory loss, amnesia, and dementia or threats like schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease (ad). iranian traditional medicine (itm) recommends some herbs and herbal preparations for the treatment or prevention of cns problems. | 2016 | 27840509 |
| protective effect of crocetin on bovine spermatozoa against oxidative stress during in vitro fertilization. | oxidative stress is one of the major factors that contribute to poor semen quality and low rates of in vitro fertilization. crocetin, a main constituent of saffron (crocus sativus l.) possesses potent antioxidant activity, by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ros) and/or enhancing the activity of intracellular antioxidant enzymes. the aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effect of crocetin on the quality characteristics of bull spermatozoa and fertilization rate. for t ... | 2016 | 27575445 |
| insight of saffron proteome by gel-electrophoresis. | saffron is a spice comprised of the dried stigmas and styles of crocus sativus l. flowers and, since it is very expensive, it is frequently adulterated. so far, proteomic tools have never been applied to characterize the proteome of saffron or identify possible cases of fraud. in this study, 1d-gel electrophoresis was carried out to characterize the protein profile of (i) fresh stigmas and styles of the plant; (ii) dried stigmas and styles from different geographical origins (spanish, italian, g ... | 2016 | 26840283 |
| laūq: a sustained-release dosage form for respiratory disorders in traditional persian medicine. | laūq is a pharmaceutical dosage form that had been mainly used for the treatment of various respiratory disorders in traditional persian medicine. it is important from 2 aspects: a dosage form with efficient and optimum delivery of drugs to the respiratory tract and biological effects of its ingredients. natural medicine in laūq has been demonstrated to act in respiratory disorders by their antitussive, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, spasmolytic, and antibacterial activities. some ... | 2016 | 26008751 |
| herbal remedies and functional foods used by cancer patients attending specialty oncology clinics in trinidad. | cancer is a major disease worldwide, and many patients use complementary and alternative treatments. the purpose of this study was to identify the herbal remedies and functional foods used as complementary medicine by prostate, breast and colorectal cancer patients at speciality care facilities in trinidad. we also sought to determine how patients rated the efficacy of these modalities compared with conventional treatment. | 2016 | 27769229 |
| molecular mechanism of crocin induced caspase mediated mcf-7 cell death: in vivo toxicity profiling and ex vivo macrophage activation. | crocus sativus and its major constituent crocin are well established to have anti-cancer properties in breast cancer cells (mcf-7). however the role of c. sativus extract (cse) and crocin on caspase signaling mediated mcf-7 cell death at molecular level is remains unclear. in this study, we tried to unravel role of cse and crocin on caspase mediated mcf-7 cells death and their in vivo preclinical toxicity profiling and immune stimulatory effect. | 2016 | 27039797 |
| effect of polymer/nanosilver composite packaging on long-term microbiological status of iranian saffron (crocus sativus l.). | crocus sativus l. (saffron) is a valuable plant which is native to iran. saffron is the dried stigmata of the flowering part of the plant that is usually contaminated with different bacteria and fungi through production process. antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles are well recognized. to survey the effects of nanosilver packaging on microbiological status of spiked, saffron samples over a six month period were chosen. saffron samples from five regions of khorasan province were purch ... | 2016 | 27081358 |
| spices for prevention and treatment of cancers. | spices have been widely used as food flavorings and folk medicines for thousands of years. numerous studies have documented the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of spices, which might be related to prevention and treatment of several cancers, including lung, liver, breast, stomach, colorectum, cervix, and prostate cancers. several spices are potential sources for prevention and treatment of cancers, such as curcuma longa (tumeric), nigella sativa (black cumin), zingibe ... | 2016 | 27529277 |
| natural products of relevance in the prevention and supportive treatment of depression. | the use of herbs or their parts: leaves, roots, rhizomes, flowers, seeds, natural strains, as well as extracts or isolated metabolites is becoming more and more popular. natural remedies not only act prophylactically, but also help to alleviate symptoms of many diseases and enhance the overall functioning of the internal organs. many raw materials of natural origin plays a role in treatment of health problems, and also in case of serious diseases such as depression. depression (affective disorde ... | 2016 | 26276913 |
| identifying a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4a gene and its efficient agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in bixa orellana l. | carotenoids are metabolized to apocarotenoids through the pathway catalysed by carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (ccos). the apocarotenoids are economically important as it is known to have therapeutic as well as industrial applications. for instance, bixin from bixa orellana and crocin from crocus sativus are commercially used as a food colourant and cosmetics since prehistoric time. in our present study, ccd4a gene has been identified and isolated from leaves of b. orellana for the first time and ... | 2016 | 26922728 |
| genetic and epigenetic approaches for the possible detection of adulteration and auto-adulteration in saffron (crocus sativus l.) spice. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) is very expensive and, because of this, often subject to adulteration. modern genetic fingerprinting techniques are an alternative low cost technology to the existing chemical techniques, which are used to control the purity of food products. buddleja officinalis maxim, gardenia jasminoides ellis, curcuma longa l., carthamus tinctorius l. and calendula officinalis l. are among the most frequently-used adulterants in saffron spice. three commercial kits were compared c ... | 2016 | 26978342 |
| evaluation of teratogenic effects of crocin and safranal, active ingredients of saffron, in mice. | saffron (crocus sativus) is a widely used food additive for its color and taste. crocin and safranal are two main components of this plant. numerous studies are underway to introduce saffron and its active ingredients as pharmacological agents. safety assessments of these compounds are important parts of this endeavor. in this study, the effects of crocin and safranal administrations during embryogenesis have been investigated in mice. a total of 75 balb/c pregnant mice were divided into six exp ... | 2016 | 24097366 |
| antidepressant effect of crocus sativus aqueous extract and its effect on creb, bdnf, and vgf transcript and protein levels in rat hippocampus. | crocus sativus l., commonly known as saffron, is a perennial stemless herb in iridaceae family. it has been used in traditional medicine as well as in modern pharmacological studies for variety of conditions including depression. recent studies have suggested brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf), vgf neuropeptide, cyclic-amp response element binding protein (creb) and phospho-creb (p-creb) may play roles in depression. in this research the molecular mechanism of antidepressant effect of aque ... | 2015 | 24696423 |
| evaluation of diazinon-induced hepatotoxicity and protective effects of crocin. | diazinon (dzn) is one of the most widely used insecticides in agricultural pest control. previous studies have shown that dzn may induce hepatotoxicity. reactive oxygen species and apoptosis pathways are involved in the toxicity of dzn. crocin, a constituent of saffron, has hepatoprotective effects due to its antioxidant activity. in this study, we examined the effects of subacute dzn exposure and ameliorating effect of crocin on lipid peroxidation and pathological changes in rat liver. moreover ... | 2015 | 23406950 |
| an open label, randomized, fixed-dose, crossover study comparing efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and saffron (crocus sativus linn.) for treating erectile dysfunction in men naïve to treatment. | saffron (crocus sativus linn.) have been perceived by the public as a strong aphrodisiac herbal product. however, studies addressing the potential beneficial effects of saffron on erectile function (ef) in men with ed are lacking. our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saffron administration on ef in men with ed. after a 4-week baseline assessment, 346 men with ed (mean age 46.6+/-8.4 years) were randomized to receive on-demand sildenafil for 12 weeks followed by 30 mg saffron twice ... | 2015 | 20520621 |