Saffron Benefits and Side Effects

Saffron (Crocus sativus, L.) is a culinary spice widely used in Middle
Eastern dishes. It has also been used in traditional Persian medicine to
relieve stomachaches, ease the pain of kidney stones, and treat
depression. In traditional Chinese system, saffron was used as an
agent to improve blood circulation and cure the bruise. [4] Some studies
suggest that saffron may also have benefits of anticancer and
memory-enhancing activities.

The Health Benefits of Saffron and Its Extracts
Some recent studies have demonstrated the memory-enhancing,
anti-cancer and anti-oxidant activities of saffron extracts. [2] The
spectrum of tumors saffron is against is wide including leukemia, ovarian
carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, papilloma,
squamous cell carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. [4] Researchers
noted its dose-dependent cytotoxic effect to carcinoma, sarcoma and
leukemia cells in vitro. 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. A study 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. [5] It is believed
that crocetin and / or crocin attribute these activities.

Crocetin is a carotenoid (8,8'-diapo-8,8'-carotenoic acid) with seven
double bonds and four methyl groups. It contributes the most health
benefits of saffron. Crocetin has been shown to enhance the oxygen
diffusivity through plasma and other liquids, increase alveolar oxygen
transport and enhance pulmonary oxygenation. In study of
hemorrhaged rats, crocetin improves cerebral oxygenation and shows
benefits on the atherosclerosis and arthritis treatment. In animal
studies, crocetin inhibits skin tumor promotion. [1,3]

Some studies have shown that saffron extract or its active constituents,
crocetin and crocin may have benefits on people suffered from
neurodegenerative disorders accompanying memory impairment. [2,7]

In studies of mice, saffron extract improved ethanol-induced
impairments of learning behaviors and prevented ethanol-induced
inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (related to learning and
memory abilities). Researchers believe that crocin may attribute this
effect. [2]

In a study of hyperlipemia rats, crocin decreased cholesterol, triglyceride
and density lipoprotein levels, and increased the content of high density
lipoprotein. Researchers believe that crocin prevents atherosclerosis in
hyperlipemia, via inhibition of both proliferation of smooth muscle cells
and activation of p38MAPK. [6]

Toxicity and Side effects of Saffron
Saffron has low biochemical toxic effects on animals. [4]

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[1] Giaccio M. Crocetin from saffron: an active component of an ancient spice.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2004;44(3):155-72. [2] Abe K, Saito H., Effects of saffron
extract and its constituent crocin on learning behaviour and long-term
potentiation. Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):149-52. [3] Abdullaev FI,
Espinosa-Aguirre JJ. Biomedical properties of saffron and its potential use in
cancer therapy and chemoprevention trials. Cancer Detect Prev.
2004;28(6):426-32. [4] Deng Y, Guo ZG, Zeng ZL, Wang Z. Studies on the
pharmacological effects of saffron(Crocus sativus L.)--a reviewZhongguo Zhong
Yao Za Zhi. 2002 Aug;27(8):565-8. [5] Nair SC et al, Saffron chemoprevention in
biology and medicine: a review. Cancer Biother. 1995 Winter;10(4):257-64. [6]
Xu GL et al, Study of the effect of crocin on rat experimental hyperlipemia and
the underlying mechanismsZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005 Mar;30(5):369-72.
[7] Hosseinzadeh H, et al, Safranal, a constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron),
attenuated cerebral ischemia induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus. J
Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005 Aug 22;8(3):394-9.

SAFFRON BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS