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]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION
[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.
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]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION
[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
SIDE EFFECTS