| effect of saffron (crocus sativus l.) on sodium valporate induced cytogenetic and testicular alterations in albino rats. | the present study investigated the cytogenetic and testicular damage induced by the antiepileptic drug, sodium valporate (svp) in albino rats and the effect of saffron aqueous extracts. treating rats with svp caused a significant increase in the chromosomal aberrations either structural or numerical and decreased the mitotic index. besides, animals administered svp showed dna damage appeared in the single strand breaks (comet assay). testis of svp-treated rats showed many histopathological chang ... | 2014 | 25276476 |
| safranal, a crocus sativus l constituent suppresses the growth of k-562 cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia. in silico and in vitro study. | crocin, a main constituent of crocus sativus l (saffron), has been found to inhibit the growth of k-562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia (cml) cells expressing bcr-abl protein tyrosine kinase activity. the aim of our study is to investigate the ability of the bioactive saffron's constituents, crocin (crc) and safranal (sfr), to inhibit the bcr-abl protein activity employing an in silico approach, as well as the in vitro effect of these compounds on k-562 growth and gene expression of bcr-abl. ... | 2014 | 25239662 |
| antilithiatic effects of crocin on ethylene glycol-induced lithiasis in rats. | in this study, the antilithiatic potential of crocin, a pharmacologically active constituent of crocus sativus l. (saffron), was evaluated against ethylene glycol (eg)-induced nephrolithiasis in rats. negative control rats were provided with eg (1 %) in drinking water for 30 days. crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered simultaneously once daily for 30 days (prophylactic regimen) or 14 days after stone induction (therapeutic study). for biochemical analysis, 24-h urine was collected ... | 2014 | 25173352 |
| comparing the efficacy and safety of crocus sativus l. with memantine in patients with moderate to severe alzheimer's disease: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. | limited pharmacological options are available for the management of alzheimer's disease (ad) in severe stages. cognitive-enhancing properties of saffron, the dried stigma of crocus sativus l., have been evidenced in different studies. we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of saffron extract versus memantine in reducing cognitive deterioration of patients with moderate to severe ad. | 2014 | 25163440 |
| 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 |
| effects of saffron (crocus sativus) petal ethanolic extract on hematology, antibody response, and spleen histology in rats. | saffron petal is a by-product that contains flavonoids and anthocyanins. in order to study the effects of saffron petal extract (spe) on blood parameters, immune system, and spleen histology, five treatments (n=6) were used in a completely randomized design. | 2014 | 25050307 |
| hydroalcoholic extract of crocus sativus effects on bronchial inflammatory cells in ovalbumin sensitized rats. | inflammation is one of the major components of asthma. our aim was to evaluate the effects of c. sativus extract on total and differential white blood cells (wbc) count in lung lavage fluid (llf) of ovalbumin-sensitized rats. | 2013 | 25050293 |
| preventive effects of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron on hematological parameters of experimental asthmatic rats. | asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory airways distinguished by edema and infiltration of inflammatory immune cells. to test our hypothesis about the anti-inflammatory effect of saffron, we examined effects of crocus sativus (c. sativus) extract as a prophylactic anti-inflammatory agent in sensitized rats. | 2013 | 25050284 |
| identification of bacteria associated with underground parts of crocus sativus by 16s rrna gene targeted metagenomic approach. | saffron (crocus sativus l), an autumn-flowering perennial sterile plant, reproduces vegetatively by underground corms. saffron has biannual corm-root cycle that makes it an interesting candidate to study microbial dynamics in its rhizosphere and cormosphere (area under influence of corm). culture independent 16s rrna gene metagenomic study of rhizosphere and cormosphere of saffron during flowering stage revealed presence of 22 genera but none of the genus was common in all the three samples. bul ... | 2014 | 24989343 |
| apical dominance in saffron and the involvement of the branching enzymes ccd7 and ccd8 in the control of bud sprouting. | in saffron (crocus sativus), new corms develop at the base of every shoot developed from the maternal corm, a globular underground storage stem. since the degree of bud sprouts influences the number and size of new corms, and strigolactones (sls) suppress growth of pre-formed axillary bud, it was considered appropriate to investigate sl involvement in physiology and molecular biology in saffron. we focused on two of the genes within the sl pathway, ccd7 and ccd8, encoding carotenoid cleavage enz ... | 2014 | 24947472 |
| the effect of safranal, a constituent of crocus sativus (saffron), on tracheal responsiveness, serum levels of cytokines, total no and nitrite in sensitized guinea pigs. | the effect of safranal (one of the constituents of crocus sativus) on ovalbumin (ova) sensitized guinea pigs was examined. | 2014 | 24905307 |
| new insights into the biological properties of crocus sativus l.: chemical modifications, human monoamine oxidases inhibition and molecular modeling studies. | although there are clinical trials and in vivo studies in literature regarding the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the components of crocus sativus l., their effects on the human monoamine oxidases (hmao-a and hmao-b), enzymes which are involved in mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, have not yet been investigated. we have thus examined the hmao inhibitory activities of crocin and safranal (the most important active principles in saffron) and, subsequently, designed a se ... | 2014 | 24904963 |
| antitumor effects of saffron-derived carotenoids in prostate cancer cell models. | crocus sativus l. extracts (saffron) are rich in carotenoids. preclinical studies have shown that dietary intake of carotenoids has antitumor effects suggesting their potential preventive and/or therapeutic roles. we have recently reported that saffron (se) and crocin (cr) exhibit anticancer activity by promoting cell cycle arrest in prostate cancer (pca) cells. it has also been demonstrated that crocetin esters are produced after se gastrointestinal digestion by cr hydrolysis. the aim of the pr ... | 2014 | 24900952 |
| clinical applications of saffron (crocus sativus) and its constituents: a review. | commonly known as saffron, crocus sativus l and its active components have shown several useful pharmacological effects such as anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, radical scavenger effects, learning and memory improving effects, etc. there has been an increasing body of data on saffron use in medical databases within the last 20 years. in the current review, the strengths and weaknesses of some of the clinical trials about different pharmacological effects of saffron w ... | 2015 | 24848002 |
| application of response surface methodology to optimise supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of volatile compounds from crocus sativus. | crocus sativus has been used as a traditional chinese medicine for a long time. the volatile compounds of c. sativus appear biologically active and may act as antioxidants as well as anticonvulsants, antidepressants and antitumour agents. in order to obtain the highest possible yield of essential oils from c. sativus, response surface methodology was employed to optimise the conditions of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction of the volatile compounds from c. sativus. four factorswere in ... | 2014 | 24834501 |
| the synergic effects of crocus sativus l. and low frequency electromagnetic field on vegfr2 gene expression in human breast cancer cells. | angiogenesis, which is required for embryonic development and many physiological events, plays crucial role in many pathological conditions such as tumor growth and metastasis. recent studies indicate anticancer and antitumor properties of saffron against human cancers. many processes are affected by electromagnetic field (emf) and its effect on proliferation and gene expression were examined. in this experimental study, the synergic effects of saffron and emf on vegfr2 gene expression in mcf7 c ... | 2014 | 24834315 |
| nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity evaluation of crocus sativus stigmas in neonates of nursing mice. | crocus sativus, known as saffron crocus, is best known for the spice saffron. saffron use spans more than 3500 years, however, its toxicity on neonates during lactation has not yet evaluated. | 2014 | 24772401 |
| a comparative study of saffron aqueous extract and its active ingredient, crocin on the in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro culture of mouse oocytes. | reactive oxygen species have effects on gamete quality and gamete interaction; they influence spermatozoa, oocytes, embryos, and their environment. in this study, we evaluated the antioxidant effect of different concentrations of saffron (crocus sativus l.) aqueous extract (sae) and its ingredient, crocin, on the improvement of in vitro maturation (ivm) and subsequent in vitro fertilization (ivf) and embryo development of mouse oocytes. | 2014 | 24767641 |
| anticarcinogenic effect of saffron (crocus sativus l.) and its ingredients. | conventional and newly emerging treatment procedures such as chemotherapy, catalytic therapy, photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy have not succeeded in reversing the outcome of cancer diseases to any drastic extent, which has led researchers to investigate alternative treatment options. the extensive repertoire of traditional medicinal knowledge systems from various parts of the world are being re-investigated for their healing properties crocus sativus l., commonly known as saffron, is the ra ... | 2014 | 24761112 |
| saffron improves epididymal sperm parameters in rats exposed to cadmium. | cadmium (cd) is known to cause various disorders in the testis. the general population may be exposed to cd through ingestion of food and drinking water, inhalation of particulates from ambient air, tobacco smoke and ingestion of contaminated soil and dust. saffron (crocus sativus l.) is widely used as a food flavour, and has well known medicinal effects. | 2014 | 24719804 |
| evaluation of lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid oxidative stress indices for assessing the preventing effects of safranal on respiratory distress in diabetic rats. | we investigated the effects of antioxidant activity of safranal, a constituent of crocus sativus l., against lung oxidative damage in diabetic rats. the rats were divided into the following groups of 8 animals each: control, diabetic, and three diabetic + safranal-treated (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mg/kg/day) groups. streptozotocin (stz) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a single dose of 60 mg/kg for diabetes induction. safranal was administered (i.p.) from 3 days after stz administration to t ... | 2014 | 24701146 |
| proposed cytotoxic mechanisms of the saffron carotenoids crocin and crocetin on cancer cell lines. | we investigated the cytotoxic activities of crocin and crocetin, 2 major carotenoids isolated from the stigma of crocus sativus (saffron), on 5 human cancer cell lines and proposed their possible anticancer mechanisms. crocetin, a glycosylated carotenoid, showed approximately 5- to 18-fold higher cytotoxicity than crocin, a carboxylic carotenoid (ic50 of 0.16-0.61 mmol/l for crocetin vs. 2.0-5.5 mmol/l for crocin). this suggests that structural differences account for the different efficacies be ... | 2014 | 24697694 |
| study on diuretic activity of saffron (stigma of crocus sativus l.) aqueous extract in rat. | saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and consists of the dried stigmas of crocus sativus l. it is used as food coloring and flavoring in food industry and traditional cooking and also in folk medicine as antispasmodic, carminative, stomachic, expectorant, aphrodisiac and cardiotonic. the present study has evaluated the diuretic activity of aqueous extract of dried saffron (stigma of crocussativus) in rat. aqueous extracts of saffron were administered to experimental rats orally as do ... | 2014 | 24696813 |
| 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 |
| safranal, a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b inhibitor, activates insulin signaling in c2c12 myotubes and improves glucose tolerance in diabetic kk-ay mice. | protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b (ptp1b) negatively regulates insulin signaling by tyrosine dephosphorylation of insulin receptor, and its increased activity and expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. hence, ptp1b inhibition is anticipated to improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic subjects. the aim of this study was to find a novel ptp1b inhibitor from medicinal food and to evaluate its antidiabetic effects. | 2014 | 24668740 |
| a review of the chemistry and uses of crocins and crocetin, the carotenoid natural dyes in saffron, with particular emphasis on applications as colorants including their use as biological stains. | the perennial flowering plant, saffron crocus (crocus sativus l.), is the source of the most expensive spice in the world. the dried stigmas of saffron flowers are the source of a natural dye, saffron, which has been used from ancient times for dyeing silk and fabric rugs, and for painting; it also has been used for cooking and in medicine. the yellow compounds present in the dye include crocins, which are 20-carbon water soluble glycosyl derivatives of the carotenoid, crocetin, and the dicarbox ... | 2014 | 24665936 |
| flavonoid determination in the quality control of floral bioresidues from crocus sativus l. | a high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection method (hplc-dad) was validated for the analysis of floral bioresidues obtained in saffron spice production by using three different solvent mixtures [water/hydrochloric acid (hcl) (100:1, v/v), water/acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid (47:50:3, v/v/v), and water/acetonitrile/hcl (50:50:1, v/v/v)]. fifteen phenolic compounds were tentatively identified, kaempferol 3-o-sophoroside and delphinidin 3,5-di-o-glucoside being the ... | 2014 | 24650077 |
| the effect of chronic administration of saffron (crocus sativus) stigma aqueous extract on systolic blood pressure in rats. | crocus sativus l. (saffron), which belongs to the iridaceae family, is widely cultivated in iran. cardiovascular effects of saffron has been established in some studies but the effects of chronic administration of saffron (c. sativus) stigma aqueous extract on blood pressure has not been investigated. | 2013 | 24624210 |
| effects of chronic crocin treatment on desoxycorticosterone acetate (doca)-salt hypertensive rats. | in this study, the effects of chronic administration of crocin, an active constituent of saffron, on blood pressures of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (doca) - salt induced hypertensive rats, were investigated. | 2014 | 24592301 |
| can saffron (crocus sativus) be effective in the treatment of leishmaniasis? | leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by leishmania, transmitted by the bite of some sandfly species. it is endemic in 88 countries throughout the world. pentavalent antimonials are the standard therapy for leismaniasis. saffron (crocus sativus) belongs to the iridaceae family. this paper will outline the benefits and challenges of repurposing saffron for treating leishmaniasis. | 2013 | 24552229 |
| crocetin, a carotenoid from gardenia jasminoides ellis, protects against hypertension and cerebral thrombogenesis in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. | crocetin is a natural carotenoid dicarboxylic acid that is found in the fruit of gardenia jasminoides ellis (cape jasmine) and in the stamen and pistil of crocus sativus l. (saffron). it is used worldwide as an important spice, food colorant, and herbal medicine. in the current investigation, we have examined the cardiovascular effects of crocetin using stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (shrsps). male shrsps (6 weeks old) were classified into three groups: a control group and two croc ... | 2014 | 24550159 |
| antidepressant effects of crocin and its effects on transcript and protein levels of creb, bdnf, and vgf in rat hippocampus. | antidepressants have been shown to affect levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) and vgf (non-acronymic) whose transcriptions are dependent on camp response element binding protein (creb) in long term treatment. the aim of this study was to verify the subacute antidepressant effects of crocin, an active constituent of saffron (crocus sativus l.), and its effects on creb, bdnf, and vgf proteins, transcript levels and amount of active, phosphorylated creb (p-creb) protein in rat hippoc ... | 2014 | 24401376 |
| an improvement in sexual function is related to better quality of life, regardless of urinary function improvement: results from the idiprost® gold study. | the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (luts) and erectile dysfunction (ed) has recently received increased attention. the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the alfa-5® association of serenoa repens, pinus massoniana bark extract (pmbe) and crocus sativus (idiprost® gold) in improvement of patient's quality of life, when compared with serenoa repens alone. | 2013 | 24399119 |
| protective effect of crocin on diazinon induced vascular toxicity in subchronic exposure in rat aorta ex-vivo. | diazinon (dzn) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. although mechanism of dzn cardiovascular toxicity is primarily mediated through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, however, dzn causes remarkable atropine-insensitive hypotension in rats. it has been proved that oxidative stress is an important mechanism of dzn toxicity especially in chronic exposure. crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, has been found to antagonize the hypotensive effects of dzn in rats, but do not reverse acetyl ... | 2014 | 24392635 |
| in-chain neutral hydrocarbon loss from crocin apocarotenoid ester glycosides and the crocetin aglycon (crocus sativus l.) by esi-ms(n) (n=2, 3). | the stigmas of crocus sativus l. have been used as spice and colorant agent (i.e. saffron) for more than 4000 years. for an updated structural investigation of the aglycon present in the glycosylated crocetin apocarotenoids (i.e. crocins), seven representative derivatives ranging from one up to five glucosyl-residues with a maximum number of three monosaccharides per glycosylation site (glucose, gentiobiose, gentiotriose and neapolitanose) were isolated and purified by high-performance liquid ch ... | 2013 | 24338885 |
| effective isolation protocol for secondary metabolites from saffron: semi-preparative scale preparation of crocin-1 and trans-crocetin. | extracts from saffron, the dried stigmata from crocus sativus l. are recognized as valuable tools for pharmaceutical development in neuroprotection and antidepressive therapy. one major lead compound is crocin-1 (1), which gets metabolized to the c20-dicarboxylic acid trans-crocetin (2) being responsible for potential nmda-antagonistic effects in the central nervous system. neither crocin-1 nor crocetin are commercially available in sufficient quality and to a reasonable price. the following pro ... | 2014 | 24321578 |
| saffron (crocus sativus l.) and major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. | due to safety concerns and side effects of many antidepressant medications, herbal psychopharmacology research has increased, and herbal remedies are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to prescribed medications for the treatment of major depressive disorder (mdd). of these, accumulating trials reveal positive effects of the spice saffron (crocus sativus l.) for the treatment of depression. a comprehensive and statistical review of the clinical trials examining the effects of saffron f ... | 2013 | 24299602 |
| a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of crocus sativus l. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. | a significant correlation exists between coronary artery diseases and depression. the aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of saffron versus fluoxetine in improving depressive symptoms of patients who were suffering from depression after performing percutaneous coronary intervention (pci). | 2014 | 24289892 |
| crocus sativus l. (saffron) stigma aqueous extract induces apoptosis in alveolar human lung cancer cells through caspase-dependent pathways activation. | worldwide, lung cancer is the most common form of cancer. saffron has been used in folk medicine for centuries. we investigated the potential of saffron to induce cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in lung cancer cells (a549). we also examined the caspase-dependent pathways activation of saffron-induced apoptosis against the a549 cells. a549 cells were incubated with different concentrations of saffron extract; then cell morphological changes, cell viability, and apoptosis were determined by the no ... | 2013 | 24288678 |
| effect of split foliar fertilisation on the quality and quantity of active constituents in saffron (crocus sativus l.). | saffron (crocus sativus l.) is one of the most expensive medicinal and aromatic plants in the world. due to the excessive application of chemical fertilisers in saffron farms and alkalinity of most cultivated soils, split foliar fertilisation has been suggested. the primary goal of this study was to propose split foliar fertilisation as a technique in increasing the quality and quantity of active constituents in saffron. hplc analysis was used to quantify the most important saffron components; c ... | 2014 | 24288269 |
| bioactivity assessment and toxicity of crocin: a comprehensive review. | since ancient times, saffron, the dried stigma of the plant crocus sativus l. has been extensively used as a spice and food colorant; in folk medicine it has been reputed to be efficacious for the alleviation and treatment of ailments. in addition to the three founded major constituents including crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, presence of carotenoids, carbohydrates, proteins, anthocyanins, vitamins and minerals provide valuable insights into the health benefits and nutritional value of saffro ... | 2014 | 24275090 |
| saffron and natural carotenoids: biochemical activities and anti-tumor effects. | saffron, a spice derived from the flower of crocus sativus, is rich in carotenoids. two main natural carotenoids of saffron, crocin and crocetin, are responsible for its color. preclinical studies have shown that dietary intake of some carotenoids have potent anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting their potential preventive and/or therapeutic roles in several tissues. the reports represent that the use of carotenoids without the potential for conversion to vitamin a may provide ... | 2014 | 24269582 |
| acute and subacute toxicity of safranal, a constituent of saffron, in mice and rats. | the acute and sub-acute toxicity of safranal were studied in rat and mice within 2 and 21 days after exposure, respectively. for subacute toxicity, changes in weight as well as biochemical, hematological and pathological parameters were studied. the intraperitoneal ld50 values of safranal were 1.48 ml/kg in male mice, 1.88 ml/kg in female mice and 1.50 ml/kg in male rats. oral ld50 values were 21.42 ml/kg in male mice, 11.42 ml/kg in female mice and 5.53 ml/kg in male rats. for subacute toxicity ... | 2013 | 24250576 |
| determination of metal content in crocus sativus l. corms in dormancy and waking stages. | more than 30 mineral elements have been found with different key functions in helping plants and animals to survive and live healthy. as a direct result, they have always attracted the attention of scientists. the quest is to find some efficient analytical and quantitative procedures in this study to determine some mineral and trace elements of iranian crocus sativus l. corms. several studies have been made using distinct methods and eventually, to achieve this purpose, three analytical methods ... | 2013 | 24250569 |
| cytotoxic effect against 3t3 fibroblasts cells of saffron floral bio-residues extracts. | for every kilogram of saffron spice produced, about 63 kg of floral bio-residues (fb) (tepals, stamens and styles) are thrown away. extracts of these bio-residues in water (w1), water:hcl (100:1, v/v) (w2), ethanol (e3), ethanol:hcl (100:1, v/v) (e4), dichloromethane (d5) and hexane (h6) were prepared. their composition in flavonols and anthocyanins, and their effect on cell viability were determined. w1 was the richest in kaempferol 3-sophoroside (30.34 mg/g dry fb) and delphinidin 3,5-diglucos ... | 2014 | 24206685 |
| the extract of crocus sativus and its constituent safranal, affect serum levels of endothelin and total protein in sensitized guinea pigs. | the effect of the extract of crocus sativus and its constituent, safranal on inflammatory markers in sensitized guinea pigs was examined. | 2013 | 24175050 |
| 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 |
| crocins, the active constituents of crocus sativus l., counteracted ketamine-induced behavioural deficits in rats. | experimental evidence indicates that the non-competitive n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) receptor antagonist ketamine impairs cognition and can mimic certain aspects of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia in rodents. crocins are among the active components of the plant crocus sativus l. and were found to be effective in different models of psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression. | 2014 | 24096536 |
| relative expression of cszcd gene and apocarotenoid biosynthesis during stigma development in crocus sativus l. | crocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant characterized by its red stigmas, which produce significant quantities of carotenoid derivatives formed from the oxidative cleavage of β-carotene and zeaxanthin. the accumulation of three major carotenoid derivatives- crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal- is responsible for the color, bitter taste, and aroma of saffron, which is obtained from the dried stigma of crocus. maximum apocarotenoid accumulation occurs during fully developed scarlet stage of stigm ... | 2012 | 24082500 |
| dna fragmentation and apoptosis induced by safranal in human prostate cancer cell line. | apoptosis, an important mechanism that contributes to cell growth reduction, is reported to be induced by crocus sativus (saffron) in different cancer types. however, limited effort has been made to correlate these effects to the active ingredients of saffron. the present study was designed to elucidate cytotoxic and apoptosis induction by safranal, the major coloring compound in saffron, in a human prostate cancer cell line (pc-3). | 2013 | 24082436 |
| crocins with high levels of sugar conjugation contribute to the yellow colours of early-spring flowering crocus tepals. | crocus sativus is the source of saffron spice, the processed stigma which accumulates glucosylated apocarotenoids known as crocins. crocins are found in the stigmas of other crocuses, determining the colourations observed from pale yellow to dark red. by contrast, tepals in crocus species display a wider diversity of colours which range from purple, blue, yellow to white. in this study, we investigated whether the contribution of crocins to colour extends from stigmas to the tepals of yellow cro ... | 2013 | 24058441 |
| protective effect of saffron extract against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in isolated rabbit heart. | anticancer treatments such as anthracyclines are effective; however, they induce cardiotoxicity by releasing radical oxygen species (ros). saffron (crocus sativus; iridaceae) is a widely used spice with antioxidant properties and numerous health benefits that may provide cardioprotection. | 2013 | 24003974 |
| cytotoxic effects of crocin on molt-4 human leukemia cells. | 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. | 2013 | 23934514 |
| an overview on saffron, phytochemicals, and medicinal properties. | saffron is the most valuable medicinal food product because of its importance in iran's agricultural economy. the dried stigmas of the plant crocus sativus (iridaceae) are processing to produce saffron as a well-known spice which has some other importance in pharmaceutics, cosmetics, perfumery, and textile dye-producing industries. recently, reports about the pharmacological activity of this plant increase its importance in the world. the world's annual saffron production is estimated around 300 ... | 2013 | 23922458 |
| saffron (crocus sativus l.) powder as an ingredient of rye bread: an anti-diabetic evaluation. | in this study, a most consumer-acceptable rye bread (rb) containing saffron (s) powder (rb+s) was designed to verify its anti-diabetic properties, and to compare these effects with those of rb and s separately, matched to a similar dose of bioactive components, used in the high-fat (hf) diet in streptozotocin (stz)-induced wistar rats. after baking, beneficial antioxidant and sensory properties for rb enriched with 0.12% s were achieved. twenty-four severely diabetic rats (fasting blood glucose ... | 2013 | 23909906 |
| crocus sativus stigma extract and its major constituent crocin possess significant antiproliferative properties against human prostate cancer. | in this study, we investigated the antiproliferative effects of saffron extract (se) and its major constituent crocin on 5 different malignant and 2 nonmalignant prostate cancer cell lines. using high performance liquid chromatography (hplc), the purity and content of crocin were determined. all cells were incubated with different concentrations of se or crocin for 48 h. cell cycle and apoptosis were also evaluated. in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, both se and crocin reduced cell p ... | 2013 | 23909737 |
| saffron administration prevents selenite-induced cataractogenesis. | the present study sought to investigate whether crocus sativus stigmas (saffron) extract prevents selenium-induced cataractogenesis in vivo, and to study its possible protective mechanism. | 2013 | 23734088 |
| effect of crocus sativus l. (saffron) on coagulation and anticoagulation systems in healthy volunteers. | saffron showed some effects on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation in in vitro and in vivo studies. in a clinical trial with a limited number volunteers, saffron tablets influenced on bleeding time. in this study, the effect of saffron on plasma level of fibrinogen, factor vii (as coagulant agent), c and s protein (as anti-coagulant agent), pt and ptt in a larger sample size was evaluated. the study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study consisting of 1 week treatment with 200 mg an ... | 2014 | 23733488 |
| the effect of the crocus sativus l. carotenoid, crocin, on the polymerization of microtubules, in vitro. | crocin, as the main carotenoid of saffron, has shown anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. crocin might interact with cellular proteins and modulate their functions, but the exact target of this carotenoid and the other compounds of the saffron have not been discovered yet. microtubular proteins, as one of the most important proteins inside the cells, have several functions in nearly all kinds of cellular processes. the aim of this study was to investigate whether crocin affects microtu ... | 2013 | 23638298 |
| protective effect of safranal, a constituent of crocus sativus, on quinolinic acid-induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus. | quinolinic acid (qa)-mediated excitotoxicity has been widely used as a model for studying neurodegenerative disorders. recent studies suggested that saffron (crocus sativus) or its active metabolite, i.e. safranal, exerts pharmacological actions on central nervous system including anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective properties. the present study aimed to investigate the effect safranal pretreatment on qa-induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus. | 2013 | 23638295 |
| crocin restores hypotensive effect of subchronic administration of diazinon in rats. | in this study, the effects of crocin against subchronic toxicity of diazinon (dzn) on systolic blood pressure (sbp) and heart rate (hr) were evaluated in rats. | 2013 | 23638294 |
| cardioprotective effect of saffron extract and safranal in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in wistar rats. | this study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of crocus sativus l. (saffron) aqueous extract and safranal, the major constituent of the essential oil of saffron, on lipid peroxidation, biochemical parameters and histopathological findings in isoproterenol (iso)-induced myocardial infarction in wistar rats. | 2013 | 23638293 |
| development and validation of hplc method for determination of crocetin, a constituent of saffron, in human serum samples. | the present study reports the development and validation of a sensitive and rapid extraction method beside high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of crocetin in human serum. | 2013 | 23638292 |
| safety evaluation of crocin (a constituent of saffron) tablets in healthy volunteers. | crocin is the chemical ingredient primarily responsible for the color of saffron. it has different pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anticancer and memory improving activities. crocin tablets were evaluated for short-term safety and tolerability in healthy adult volunteers. | 2013 | 23638291 |
| saffron aqueous extract inhibits the chemically-induced gastric cancer progression in the wistar albino rat. | gastric cancer is the first and second leading cause of cancer related death in iranian men and women, respectively. gastric cancer management is based on the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. in the present study, for the first time, the beneficial effect of saffron (crocus sativus l.) aqueous extract (sae) on the 1-methyl -3- nitro -1- nitrosoguanidine (mnng)-induced gastric cancer in rat was investigated. | 2013 | 23638290 |
| safranal: from an aromatic natural product to a rewarding pharmacological agent. | safranal, the main component of crocus sativus essential oil, is thought to be the main cause of saffron unique odor. it is now about eighty years that this compound has been discovered and since then different scientific experiments have been done investigating its biological-pharmacological activities. safranal effects in cns have been more attractive to scientists and an escalating number of papers have been published regarding its neuropsychological effects. these promising properties of saf ... | 2013 | 23638289 |
| a survey on saffron in major islamic traditional medicine books. | islamic traditional medicine (itm) is a holistic system of medicine. saffron (crocus sativus) is one of the most famous plants cultivated in iran and has a wide range of activities such as oxytocic, anti-carcinogenic, exhilarant, anti-depressant, and anti-asthma effects. in addition, saffron can increase the bioavailability and enhance absorption of other drugs. this study comprises a bibliographical survey of 13 major itm books regarding different medical aspects of this species. ferdows al-hek ... | 2013 | 23638288 |
| protective effects of saffron (crocus sativus) against lethal ventricular arrhythmias induced by heart reperfusion in rat: a potential anti-arrhythmic agent. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) has been used as a cuisine spice in eastern and western societies for thousands of years. in traditional medicine, saffron is recommended for the treatment of various kinds of disorders including heart palpitations. | 2013 | 23627471 |
| role of saffron and its constituents on cancer chemoprevention. | cancer dramatically impacts human life expectancy and quality of life. natural substances from vegetables, herbs and spices could be beneficial in the prevention or treatment of a variety of cancers. crocus sativus (iridaceae), which has been used as a folk medicine for treating diseases for ages, showed obvious cancer chemoprevention potential. | 2013 | 23570520 |
| antitumor activity of pegylated nanoliposomes containing crocin in mice bearing c26 colon carcinoma. | crocin is a pharmacologically active component of crocus sativus. it is an unusual water-soluble carotenoid responsible for the red color of saffron. in various studies, the anticancer effect of saffron and its constituents has been established. polyethylene glycolated nanoliposomes with a size range up to 200 nm are suitable for encapsulation of cytotoxic drugs and can target tumors passively through the enhanced permeation and retention effect. the aim of this study was to develop a nanoliposo ... | 2013 | 23539350 |
| protective effect of crocin on diazinon induced cardiotoxicity in rats in subchronic exposure. | this study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of crocin, main component of crocus sativus l. (saffron) against subchronic diazinon (dzn) induced cardiotoxicity in rats. | 2013 | 23523949 |
| affinity-based target deconvolution of safranal. | affinity-based target deconvolution is an emerging method for the identification of interactions between drugs/drug candidates and cellular proteins, and helps to predict potential activities and side effects of a given compound. in the present study, we hypothesized that a part of safranal pharmacological effects, one of the major constituent of crocus sativus l., relies on its physical interaction with target proteins. | 2013 | 23514587 |
| the effect of the extract of crocus sativus on tracheal responsiveness and plasma levels of il-4, ifn-γ, total no and nitrite in ovalbumin sensitized guinea-pigs. | ethnomedical relevance: anti-inflammatory, anti oxidant and effect of crocus sativus (c. sativus) on th1/th2 balance were described previously. | 2013 | 23506987 |
| assessment of cytotoxic properties of safranal and nanoliposomal safranal in various cancer cell lines. | saffron (crocus sativus) is a widely used food additive used for its color and taste. it has been reported that saffron possesses significant in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor activity. in the present study, anti-tumor effects of safranal, the major aromatic compound in saffron, and its liposomal form were investigated. the role of apoptosis has also been explored in this toxicity. hela, mcf7 and l929 cell lines were cultured and exposed to safranal (0.01-3 mm) or liposomal safranal (0.04-0.32 mm) ... | 2013 | 23494763 |
| antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of crocin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. | the aim of the present study was to investigate the antihyperglycemic and protective potential of crocin, a pharmacologically active constituent of crocus sativus l., in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. rats were administered crocin intraperitoneally at doses of 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg of body weight for 6 weeks. the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (tbars) and total thiol (sh) groups were measured in the liver and kidney at the end of 6 weeks. under our experimental conditions ... | 2013 | 23437790 |
| alleviation of viper venom induced platelet apoptosis by crocin (crocus sativus): implications for thrombocytopenia in viper bites. | viper envenomations are characterized by prominent local and systemic manifestations including hematological alterations. snake venom metalloproteinases (svmps) and phospholipase a2 (pla2) plays crucial role in the pathophysiology of hemorrhage by targeting/altering the platelets function which may result in thrombocytopenia. platelets undergo the classic events of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway due to augmented endogenous reactive oxygen species (ros) levels. the observed anticoagulant ... | 2013 | 23412973 |
| multitarget drugs of plants origin acting on alzheimer's disease. | the etiopathology of alzheimer's disease (ad) is extremely complex and heterogeneous, often associated with comorbidities. as a result it may be unlikely that ad may be mitigated by drug acting on a single specific target. the current tendency in drug design and discovery in ad is the rational design or "serendipitous" discovery of new drug entities challenging multiple targets. since two of the presently approved drugs for ad are based on natural products (galantamine and the physostigmine-deri ... | 2013 | 23410167 |
| 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 |
| crocetin administration ameliorates endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rabbits. | disseminated intravascular coagulation (dic), a life-threatening secondary complication in several diseases, is characterized by large amounts of thrombin that lead to fibrin deposition and microthrombus formation throughout the microcirculation. recent in-vitro studies suggest that crocin, crocetin or safranal, carotenoid constituents of the spice crocus sativus l. (saffron), have antithrombotic properties, especially anti-xa activity. the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of cr ... | 2013 | 23358225 |
| saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. | saffron (crocus sativus l.) has shown beneficial aphrodisiac effects in some animal and human studies. the aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of saffron on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced sexual dysfunction in women. | 2013 | 23280545 |
| saffron: a natural potent antioxidant as a promising anti-obesity drug. | obesity is associated with various diseases, particularly diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis and heart disease. research on possibilities of herbal extracts and isolated compounds from natural products for treating obesity has an upward trend. saffron (crocus sativus l. iridaceae) is a source of plant polyphenols/carotenoids, used as important spice and food colorant in different parts of the world. it has also been used in traditional medicine for treatment of different types of illnesses s ... | 2013 | 26784466 |
| crocin prevents retinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury-induced apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells through the pi3k/akt signalling pathway. | crocin is a pharmacologically active component of crocus sativus l. (saffron) and has been reported to be useful in the treatment of neuronal damage. in the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of crocin on retinal ganglion cells (rgcs) after retinal ischaemia/reperfusion (ir) injury, and our results show that crocin acts through the pi3k/akt signalling pathway. retinal ir injury was induced by raising the intraocular pressure of sprague-dawley rats to 110 mmhg for 60 min. t ... | 2013 | 23201026 |
| protective effect of crocin against cerebral ischemia in a dose-dependent manner in a rat model of ischemic stroke. | crocin is a water-soluble carotenoid isolated from the crocus sativus l (saffron) stigma. it has previously been reported that it has protective effects against renal, cardiac, and global cerebral ischemic injury. however its therapeutic effects remain to be clarified regarding ischemic reperfusion injuries, brain edema, and activity of antioxidant enzymes in a transient model of focal cerebral ischemia. | 2014 | 23182363 |
| new minor glycoside components from saffron. | phytochemical investigation of the stigmas of crocus sativus resulted in the isolation of eight glycosides (1-8) including a new safranal glycoside (2) and a new carotenoid pigment (6). the structures of the new compounds were identified as (4r)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde 4-o-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (2) and trans-crocetin-1-al 1-o-β-gentiobiosyl ester (6) on the basis of extensive chemical and spectroscopic evidence. | 2013 | 23179314 |
| investigation of the neuroprotective action of saffron (crocus sativus l.) in aluminum-exposed adult mice through behavioral and neurobiochemical assessment. | in the present study, the possible reversal effects of saffron against established aluminum (al)-toxicity in adult mice, were investigated. control, al-treated (50 mg alcl(3)/kg/day diluted in the drinking water for 5 weeks) and al+saffron (al-treatment as previously plus 60 mg saffron extract/kg/day intraperitoneally for the last 6 days), groups of male balb-c mice were used. we assessed learning/memory, the activity of acetylcholinesterase [ache, salt-(ss)/detergent-soluble(ds) isoforms], buty ... | 2013 | 23168242 |
| revisiting extraction of bioactive apocarotenoids from crocus sativus l. dry stigmas (saffron). | an ultrasound assisted extraction method is proposed for the recovery of bioactive glycosides (i.e. crocins and picrocrocin) from crocus sativus l. dry stigmas using aqueous methanol. response surface methodology (rsm) was employed to optimize the extraction parameters, namely, the percentage of methanol (%), the duration (min) and the duty cycles (s) of sonication. optical microscopy, spectrophotometry and rp-hplc-dad were employed to follow pros and cons of the process. additional experiments ... | 2012 | 23146397 |
| effect of aqueous extract of crocus sativus l. on morphine-induced memory impairment. | in the present study, the effect of aqueous extracts of saffron on morphine-induced memory impairment was investigated. on the training trial, the mice received an electric shock when the animals were entered into the dark compartment. twenty-four and forty-eight hours later, the time latency for entering the dark compartment was recorded and defined as the retention trial. the mice were divided into (1) control, (2) morphine which received morphine before the training in the passive avoidance t ... | 2012 | 23091484 |
| increasing the applications of crocus sativus flowers as natural antioxidants. | large amounts of floral bio-residues (92.6 g per 100 g of flowers) are generated and wasted in the production of saffron (crocus sativus) spice. progress in mechanization of saffron crop offer the opportunity to expand the uses of c. sativus flowers, beyond the spice (dried stigmas). the antioxidant potential of flowers of saffron, their separate parts (tepals, stamens, styles, and stigmas) and floral bio-residues were evaluated by 4 in vitro assays: lipid peroxidation, deoxyribose assay, rancim ... | 2012 | 23057806 |
| effects of the active constituents of crocus sativus l., crocins, in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. | crocins are among the active components of the plant crocus sativus l. c. sativus l. and its constituents were effective in different models of psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression. obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) is a common psychiatric disorder defined by the presence of obsessive thoughts and repetitive compulsive actions. the non selective serotonin (5-ht) receptor agonist mcpp is known to induce ocd-like behavior (excessive self-grooming) in rodents and exacerbate symp ... | 2012 | 22985509 |
| saffron (crocus sativus l.) increases glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in muscle cells via multipathway mechanisms. | saffron (crocus sativus linn.) has been an important subject of research in the past two decades because of its various biological properties, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerotic activities. on the other hand, the molecular bases of its actions have been scarcely understood. here, we elucidated the mechanism of the hypoglycemic actions of saffron through investigating its signaling pathways associated with glucose metabolism in c(2)c(12) skeletal muscle cells. saff ... | 2012 | 22980812 |
| a dietary colorant crocin mitigates arthritis and associated secondary complications by modulating cartilage deteriorating enzymes, inflammatory mediators and antioxidant status. | articular cartilage degeneration and inflammation are the hallmark of progressive arthritis and is the leading cause of disability in 10-15% of middle aged individuals across the world. cartilage and synovium are mainly degraded by either enzymatic or non-enzymatic ways. matrix metalloproteinases (mmps), hyaluronidases (haases) and aggrecanases are the enzymatic mediators and inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species being non-enzymatic mediators. in addition, mmps and haases generated ... | 2012 | 22939988 |
| isolation and characterization of a first set of polymorphic microsatellite markers in saffron, crocus sativus (iridaceae). | twelve novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized from a repeat-enriched genomic library of crocus sativus to study population and conservation genetics of this economically and medically important species. | 2012 | 22935359 |
| anti-inflammatory properties of drugs from saffron crocus. | the medicinal uses of saffron (crocus sativus linnaeus) have a long history beginning in asian countries since the late bronze age. recent studies have validated its potential to lower the risk of several diseases. some metabolites derived from saffron stigmas exert numerous therapeutic effects due to hypolipidemic, antitussive, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities and many others. water and ethanol extracts of crocus sativus l. are cardioprotective and counteract neurodegenerative disorders. ma ... | 2012 | 22934747 |
| anti-arthritic effects of crocin in interleukin-1β-treated articular chondrocytes and cartilage in a rabbit osteoarthritic model. | interleukin-1β-mediated production of matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) plays a pivotal role in the process of osteoarthritis. crocin, a pharmacologically active component of crocus sativus l. (saffron), has been used in chinese traditional medicine. in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of crocin on mmp-1, mmp-3 and mmp-13 expression in rabbit chondrocytes induced by interleukin-1β (il-1β) and in an experimental rabbit model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection. | 2013 | 22903188 |
| antiproliferative effects of crocin in hepg2 cells by telomerase inhibition and htert down-regulation. | crocin, the main pigment of crocus sativus l., has been shown to have antiproliferative effects on cancer cells, but the involved mechanisms are only poor understood. this study focused on probable effect of crocin on the immortality of hepatic cancer cells. cytotoxicity of crocin (ic50 3 mg/ml) in hepatocarcinoma hepg2 cells was determined after 48 h by neutral red uptake assay and mtt test. immortality was investigated through quantification of relative telomerase activity with a quantitative ... | 2012 | 22901211 |
| safranal, a saffron constituent, attenuates retinal degeneration in p23h rats. | saffron, an extract from crocus sativus, has been largely used in traditional medicine for its antiapoptotic and anticarcinogenic properties. in this work, we investigate the effects of safranal, a component of saffron stigmas, in attenuating retinal degeneration in the p23h rat model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. we demonstrate that administration of safranal to homozygous p23h line-3 rats preserves both photoreceptor morphology and number. electroretinographic recordings showed h ... | 2012 | 22900092 |
| vipera russelli venom-induced oxidative stress and hematological alterations: amelioration by crocin a dietary colorant. | snakebite is a serious medical and socio-economic problem affecting the healthy individuals and agricultural and farming populations worldwide. in india, vipera russelli snakebite is common, ensuing high morbidity and mortality. the venom components persuade multifactorial stress phenomenon and alter the physiological setting by causing disruption of the blood cells and vital organs. the present study demonstrates the anti-ophidian property of crocin (crocus sativus), a potent antioxidant agains ... | 2013 | 22893269 |
| in vitro cormlet production of saffron (crocus sativus l. kashmirianus) and their flowering response under greenhouse. | a complete protocol for the saffron cormlet production under in vitro conditions and subsequent flowering under greenhouse conditions is described. highest number of cormlets (70.0 ± 0.30) per corm slice (explant) could be regenerated on murashige and skoog (ms) half strength medium supplemented with thidiazuron (tdz) (20 µm), indole acetic acid (iaa) (10 µm), and sucrose (40 g/l). maximum germination (90%) of these cormlets could be achieved on ms medium containing 6-benzyl amino purine (bap) ( ... | 2014 | 22892688 |
| chemical, microbiological, textural, color, and sensory characteristics of pressed ewe milk cheeses with saffron (crocus sativus l.) during ripening. | adding saffron to dairy products represents an innovative practice to introduce them to niche markets. this paper represents a contribution to this field, as few studies have evaluated the influence of this spice on general aspects and ripening parameters of cheese. in this work, pasteurized ewe milk pressed cheeses with saffron were made to study compositional, microbiological, color, textural, and sensory characteristics in relation to saffron concentration and ripening time. the main changes ... | 2012 | 22818440 |
| avicenna's (ibn sina) the canon of medicine and saffron (crocus sativus): a review. | in this review, we introduce the traditional uses of saffron and its pharmacological activities as described by either avicenna in book ii, canon of medicine (al-qanun fi al-tib) or from recent scientific studies. modern pharmacological findings on saffron are compared with those mentioned in avicenna's monograph. a computerized search of published articles was performed using medline, scopus and web of science databases as well as local references. the search terms used were saffron, crocus sat ... | 2013 | 22815242 |