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PubMed2006

Use of SPME-GC-MS in the study of time evolution of the constituents of saffron aroma: modifications of the composition during storage.

The effect of storage on the composition of saffron aroma is studied. Six samples of saffron from different areas of Italy are analyzed by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples 1, 2, and 3 are derived from cultivations of Crocus sativus in the zone of Salerno (Southern Italy) from 2000 to 2002. Samples 4, 5, and 6 are derived from cultivations in Sardinia, Italy (from 1998, 2000, and 2001, respectively). In all samples, 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one; 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione; safranal; and 2,4,4-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione; safranal; and 2,4,4-trimethyl-6-hydroxy-3-carboxaldehyde-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one are found. 5,5-Dimethyl-2-methylene-1-carboxaldehyde-3-cyclohexene; 3,5,5-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexandione; and beta-ionone are found with nonanal, dihydro-beta-ionone, and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol. Safranal is the main component in all of the samples. The most important changes are in the presence of alcohols and aldehydes and oxidation products of the major terpenoids components. Furthermore, the presence of safranal--the most important constituent of the flavor--changes during the time, increasing during 3 years, then decreasing after 5 years.

Crocus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[In vitro evaluation of the chemopreventive potential of saffron].

UNLABELLED: Cancer is a very important national health problem in Mexico, while a significant increase in the total and childhood cancer mortality has been recorded during the last decades. Chemoprevention, defined as the use of natural or synthetic agents to prevent or to block the development of cancer in human beings, is a new and promising strategy in the battle against cancer. Saffron, obtained from the dried red-dark stigmas of Crocus sativus L., an important spice rich in carotenoids, is commonly consumed in different parts of the world and used as a medical drug to treat numerous diseases. OBJECTIVE: To test the toxicity of saffron extract in vivo; to separate different ingredients in saffron extracts; to examine the cytotoxic effect of saffron and its main components on the growth of different human malignant cells in vitro; to evaluate the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of saffron extract. METHODS: HPLC with photodiode-array detection was used for semi-preparative separation of different ingredients of saffron crude extract. Colony formation assay was used to determinate the cytotoxic activity of saffron extract and its components on human tumor cells in vitro. Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity assays were performed by the Ames method. RESULTS: Saffron is not toxic, non-mutagenic, non-antimutagenic and non-comutagenic. Twelve components were isolated: crocin-1, crocin-2, crocin-3, picrocroein, acid form of picrocrocin, HTCC-diglycosil-kaempferol trans-crocin-4, trans-crocin-2, trans-crocin-3, safranal, crocetin and cis-crocin-3. Saffron extract itself and some of its ingredients displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory activity against different types of human malignant cells in vitro. HeLa cells were more susceptible to saffron than other tested cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results and literature data indicate that saffron could be used as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent in clinical trials.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Saffron can prevent chemically induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.

One of the most promising strategies for cancer prevention today is chemoprevention using readily available natural substances from vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. Among the spices, saffron (Crocus sativus, L) a member of the large family Iridaceae, has drawn attention because apart from its use as a flavouring agent, pharmacological studies have demonstrated many health promoting properties including radical scavenging, anti- mutagenic and immuno-modulating effects. In the present study the effects of an aqueous infusion of saffron on two stage skin papillogenesis / carcinogenesis in mice initiated by 7-12 dimethyl benz[a] anthracin (DMBA) and promoted with croton oil were investigated. Significant reduction in papilloma formation was found with saffron application in the pre-initiation and post-initiation periods, and particular when the agent was given both pre- and post-initiation. The inhibition appeared to be at least partly due on modulatory effects of saffron on some phase II detoxifying enzymes like glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutahinoe peroxidase (GPx), as well as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

PubMed2000

Effects of saffron extract and its constituent crocin on learning behaviour and long-term potentiation.

Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, is used in folk medicine for various purposes. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that saffron extracts have antitumour effects, radical scavenger properties or hypolipaemic effects. Among the constituents of saffron extract, crocetin is mainly responsible for these pharmacological activities. In addition, recent behavioural and electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that saffron extract affects learning and memory in experimental animals. Saffron extract improved ethanol-induced impairments of learning behaviours in mice, and prevented ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation, a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that may underly learning and memory. This effect of saffron extract is attributed to crocin (crocetin di-gentiobiose ester), but not crocetin. Saffron extract or its active constituents, crocetin and crocin, could be useful as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders accompanying memory impairment.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Accumulation of plant small heat-stress proteins in storage organs.

Plant small heat-stress proteins (sHSPs) have been shown to be expressed not only after exposure to elevated temperatures, but also at particular developmental stages such as embryogenesis, microsporogenesis, and fruit maturation. This paper presents new data on the occurrence of sHSPs in vegetative tissues, their tissue-specific distribution, and cellular localization. We have found sHSPs in 1-year-old twigs of Acer platanoides L. and Sambucus nigra L. and in the liana Aristolochia macrophylla Lamk. exclusively in the winter months. In tendrils of Aristolochia, sHSPs were localized in vascular cambium cells. After budding, in spring, these proteins were no longer present. Furthermore, accumulation of sHSPs was demonstrated in tubers and bulbs of Allium cepa L., Amaryllis ( Hippeastrum hybridum hort.), Crocus albiflorus L., Hyacinthus orientalis L., Narcissus pseudonarcissus L., Tulipa gesneriana L., and Solanum tuberosum L. (potato). In potato tubers and bulb scales of Narcissus the stress proteins were localized in the central vacuoles of storage parenchyma cells. In order to obtain more information on a possible functional correlation between storage proteins and sHSPs, the accumulation of both types of protein in tobacco seeds during seed ripening and germination was monitored. The expression of sHSPs and globulins started simultaneously at about the 17th day after anthesis. During seed germination the sHSPs disappeared in parallel with the storage proteins. Furthermore, in embryos of transgenic tobacco plants, which do not contain any protein bodies or storage proteins, no sHSPs were found. Thus, the occurrence of sHSPs in perennial plant storage organs seems to be associated with the presence of storage proteins.

Aristolochia↗

PubMed2001

High sequence conservation among cucumber mosaic virus isolates from lily.

For classification of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolates from ornamental crops of different geographical areas, these were characterized by comparing the nucleotide sequences of RNAs 4 and the encoded coat proteins. Within the ornamental-infecting CMV viruses both subgroups were represented. CMV isolates of Alstroemeria and crocus were classified as subgroup II isolates, whereas 8 other isolates, from lily, gladiolus, amaranthus, larkspur, and lisianthus, were identified as subgroup I members. In general, nucleotide sequence comparisons correlated well with geographic distribution, with one notable exception: the analyzed nucleotide sequences of 5 lily isolates showed remarkably high homology despite different origins.

Capsid↗

PubMed1994

Inhibitory effect of crocetin on intracellular nucleic acid and protein synthesis in malignant cells.

The possibility that dietary intake of diverse naturally occurring compounds may influence the occurrence of cancer is receiving considerable scientific attention. Previously, it was reported that an extract (Crocus sativus), which contains carotenoids, had an antitumor effect and inhibited colony formation and nucleic acid synthesis by malignant human cells. Epidemiological and experimental research has indicated that carotenoids might act as antitumor agents. We have studied crocetin, a carotenoid isolated from saffron, which has been shown to have biological activity. In our experiments we utilized three malignant human cell lines: HeLa (cervical epitheloid carcinoma), A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) and VA13 (SV-40 transformed fetal lung fibroblast) cells. The effect of crocetin on colony formation and cellular DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in these cells has been examined. Incubation of these cells with crocetin for 3 h caused a dose-dependent inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Crocetin also had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on DNA and RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei and suppressed the activity of purified RNA polymerase II.

Carotenoids↗

PubMed2006

Mechanism of hypolipidemic effect of crocin in rats: crocin inhibits pancreatic lipase.

The hypolipidemic mechanism of crocin, an active ingredient in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and Crocus sativus L, was examined in rats. In diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats, a 10-day treatment with crocin significantly reduced serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol level in the daily dose range of 25 to 100 mg/kg. Results of the modified fat-loading method indicated that crocin inhibited the absorption of fat and cholesterol and this inhibition is closely related to the hydrolysis of fat. In addition, the modified fat-balance method demonstrated that crocin increased the fecal excretion of fat and cholesterol in rats, but had no influence on the elimination of bile acids. The results of the in situ loop method and enzyme assay indicated that crocin could not directly block the absorption of cholesterol from rat jejunum but could selectively inhibit the activity of pancreatic lipase as a competitive inhibitor. These findings suggest that crocin yielded its hypolipidemic effect by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, leading to the malabsorption of fat and cholesterol.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights region.

The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly important in defining strategies and actions for conservation of medicinal plants. This study therefore sought to collect information from local population concerning the use of Ajloun Heights region medicinal plants; identify the most important species used; determine the relative importance of the species surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (ICF) in relation to medicinal plant use. Data collection relied predominantly on qualitative tools to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the medicinal use of specific plants. Our results revealed that 46 plant species grown in the study region are still in use in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Most of the locals interviewed dealt with well-known safe medicinal plants such as Achillea falcata, Matricaria aurea, Majorana syriaca, Allium sativum and Allium cepa. The use of moderately unsafe or toxic plants was noted to be practiced by practitioners and herbalists rather than the locals. These plants include Ecballium elaterium, Euphorbia hierosolymitana, Mandragora autumnalis and Citrullus colocynthis. Kidney problems scored the highest ICF while Crocus hyemalis was the plant of highest use value. Searching the literature evidenced some concordance with the solicited plant uses mentioned by the informants.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Crocin prevents the death of rat pheochromyctoma (PC-12) cells by its antioxidant effects stronger than those of alpha-tocopherol.

Crocin is a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) used in traditional Chinese medicine. We report here the effects of crocin on neuronally differentiated pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells deprived of serum/glucose. Depriving the PC-12 cells of serum/glucose caused peroxidation of their cell membrane lipids and decreased intercellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Treating the PC-12 cells with 10 microM crocin inhibited the formation of peroxidized lipids, partly restored the SOD activity, and maintained the neuron's morphology. These antioxidant effects of crocin were more effective than those of alpha-tocopherol at the same concentration. Crocin also suppressed the activation of caspase-8 caused by serum/glucose deprivation. These results together with our previous data suggest that crocin is a unique and potent antioxidant that combats oxidative stress in neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Neuroprotection by crocetin in a hemi-parkinsonian rat model.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated as the leading biochemical cause of neuronal death in various neurologic disorders, including Parkinson's disease. In the present study, neuromodulatory effects of crocetin (active constituent of Crocus sativus) in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of rat Parkinsonism were investigated. Male Wistar rats were pre-treated with crocetin (25, 50 and 75 microg/kg body weight) for 7 days and subjected to unilateral intrastriatal injection of 10 microg 6-OHDA on day 8. Locomotion and rotation were observed on day 23 post-injection, and after 4 weeks, striatum and substantia nigra were dissected out by decapitation. Activity of antioxidant enzymes and content of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were estimated in striatum, whereas glutathione (GSH) content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were evaluated in substantia nigra. Levels of GSH and dopamine were protected, while TBARS content was attenuated in crocetin-treated groups. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was decreased in the lesion group, but protected in the crocetin-treated groups. These findings were supported by the histopathologic findings in the substantia nigra that showed that crocetin protects neurons from deleterious effects of 6-OHDA. This study revealed that crocetin, which is an important ingredient of diet in India and also used in various systems of indigenous medicine, is helpful in preventing Parkinsonism and has therapeutic potential in combating this devastating neurologic disorder.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

PubMed1999

Saffron extract prevents acetaldehyde-induced inhibition of long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus in vivo.

We have previously found that alcohol extract of Crocus sativus L. (CSE), commonly known as saffron, prevents ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). In the present study, CSE (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was also effective in preventing acetaldehyde-induced inhibition of LTP in the dentate gyrus of anesthetized rats. These results suggest that CSE can prevent aversive effects induced by ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed2004

Crocin prevents the death of PC-12 cells through sphingomyelinase-ceramide signaling by increasing glutathione synthesis.

Crocin is a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In a previous study, we demonstrated that crocin inhibits apoptosis in PC-12 cells by affecting the function of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In this study, we found that depriving cultured PC-12 cells of serum/glucose causes a rapid increase in cellular ceramide levels, followed by an increase in the phosphorylation of c-jun kinase (JNK). The accumulation of ceramide was found to depend on the activation of magnesium-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), but not on de novo synthesis. The serum/glucose-deprived PC-12 cells also decreased the cellular levels of glutathione (GSH), which is the potent inhibitor of N-SMase. Treating the PC-12 cells with crocin prevented N-SMase activation, ceramide production, and JNK phosphorylation. We also found that the chemical can enhance the activities of GSH reductase and gamma-glutamylcysteinyl synthase (gamma-GCS), contributing to a stable GSH supply that blocks the activation of N-SMase. Thus our data suggest that crocin combats the serum/glucose deprivation-induced ceramide formation in PC-12 cells by increasing GSH levels and prevents the activation of JNK pathway, which is reported to have a role of the signaling cascade downstream ceramide for neuronal cell death.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

PubMed2000

Medicinal plants and food medicines in the folk traditions of the upper Lucca Province, Italy.

An ethnopharmacobotanical survey of the medicinal plants and food medicines of the northern part of Lucca Province, north-west Tuscany, central Italy, was carried out. The geographical isolation of this area has permitted the survival of a rich folk phytotherapy involving medicinal herbs and also vegetable resources used by locals as food medicine. Among these are the uncommon use of Ballota nigra leaves as a trophic protective; the use of Lilium candidum bulbs as an antiviral to treat shingles (Herpes zoster); Parmelia sp. as a cholagogue; Crocus napolitanus flowers as antiseptic; Prunus laurocerasus drupes as a hypotensive; and the consumption of chestnut flour polenta cooked with new wine as bechic. Many wild gathered greens are eaten raw in salads, or in boiled mixtures, as 'blood cleansing' and 'intestine cleansing' agents. Of particular interest is the persistence of the archaic use of Bryonia dioica root against sciatica, and the use of ritual plant therapeuticals as good omens, or against the 'evil eye.' Over 120 species represent the heritage of the local folk pharmacopoeia in upper Garfagnana. Anthropological and ethnopharmacological considerations of the collected data are also discussed.

Data Collection↗

PubMed1999

Flavonols from saffron flower: tyrosinase inhibitory activity and inhibition mechanism.

A common flavonol, kaempferol, isolated from the fresh flower petals of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) was found to inhibit the oxidation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) catalyzed by mushroom tyrosinase with an ID(50) of 67 microgram/mL (0.23 mM). Interestingly, its 3-O-glycoside derivatives did not inhibit this oxidation. The inhibition kinetics analyzed by a Lineweaver-Burk plot found kaempferol to be a competitive inhibitor, and this inhibitory activity presumably comes from its ability to chelate copper in the enzyme. This copper chelation mechanism can be applicable for all of the flavonols as long as their 3-hydroxyl group is free. However, quercetin, kaempferol, and galangin each affect the oxidation of L-tyrosine in somewhat different ways.

Flavonoids↗

PubMed2000

Antioxidant properties of crocin from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and study of the reactions of crocin with linoleic acid and crocin with oxygen.

Crocin-a water soluble carotenoid-is found in the fruits of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) and in the stigmas of saffron (Crocus sativus Linne). For crocin purification, gardenia fruits are extracted with 50% acetone, followed by ether washing, ion exchange, and separation by preparative HPLC. Purified crocin with purity of >99.6% has an antioxidative activity at concentrations up to 40 ppm. At 20 ppm the antioxidative activity of crocin is comparable to that of BHA. The antioxidant property of crocin as evaluated by the thiocyanate method was better than with the thiobarbituric acid method. The adduct between the linoleic acid radical and crocin was detected by LC-MS. When crocin reacted with oxygen in the presence of FeSO(4), intermediates such as monohydroperoxides and dihydroperoxides of crocin were formed and detected by LC-MS.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed1994

Post-harvest degradation of carotenoid glucose esters in saffron.

It has been found that an indoor cultivation system of Crocus sativus L. is more favorable with regard to the quality of saffron, as compared to the usual cultivation in an open field. Carotenoid glucose esters increase from the period before blooming and reach the maximum in the full blooming period, and are sensitive for the presence of oxygen, light irradiation, and beta-glucosidase. Moreover, it is evident that storage of saffron at -20 degrees C promotes the constant supply of saffron with a homogeneous pharmacological activity.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

PubMed1995

Saffron chemoprevention in biology and medicine: a review.

A growing body of evidence indicate that carotenoids possess anticarcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and immunomodulating effects. Saffron obtained from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L., is an important spice, rich in carotenoids, consumed commonly in different parts of the world. Our laboratory first reported the anticancer activity of saffron extract (dimethyl-crocetin) against a wide spectrum of murine tumors and human leukemia cell lines. The present report reviews the role of saffron in serving as a chemopreventive agent in modifying cancer risk. Dose-dependent cytotoxic effect to carcinoma, sarcoma and leukemia cells in vitro were noted. Saffron delayed ascites tumor growth and increased the life span of the treated mice compared to untreated controls by 45-120%. In addition, it delayed the onset of papilloma growth, decreased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma in treated mice. Understanding the mechanisms of action of saffron have been solitarily based on their carotenoid-like action. Our results indicated significant inhibition in the synthesis of nucleic acids but not protein synthesis. It appears now that saffron (dimethyl-crocetin) disrupts DNA-protein interactions e.g. topoisomerases II, important for cellular DNA synthesis.

Animals↗