crocin and crocetin

The effect of Crocus sativus on several disorders has been discussed or even confirmed, but the efficacy of this herb on the female reproductive system has not been well presented. In this regard, this systematic review comprehensively discussed the efficacy of C. sativus and its main phytochemical compounds on the female reproductive system and its disorders for the first time. In this systematic review, scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Scientific Information Database, were explored profoundly...

Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus L., which has been used for centuries as a coloring and flavoring agent, as well as a source of medicinal compounds. Saffron contains various bioactive constituents, such as crocin, crocetin, safranal, picrocrocin, and kaempferol, that have shown potential benefits for human health. Among them, crocin is the most abundant and characteristic constituent of saffron, responsible for its bright red color and antioxidant properties. One of the most promising applications of saffron and its constituents is in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders...

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Crocetin is an aglycone of crocin naturally occurring in saffron and has been found to alleviate brain injury diseases. However, whether crocetin affects autophagy after TBI remains unknown. Therefore, we explore crocetin roles in autophagy after TBI. METHODS: We used a weight-dropped model to induce TBI in C57BL/6J mice. Neurological severity scoring (NSS) and grip tests were used to evaluate the neurological level of injury...

Crocus sativus L. was used for the treatment of a wide range of disorders in traditional medicine. Due to the extensive protective and treatment properties of C. sativus and its constituents in various diseases, the purpose of this review is to collect a summary of its effects, on experimental studies, both in vitro and in vivo . Databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus were explored until January 2023 by employing suitable keywords. Several investigations have indicated that the therapeutic properties of C...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Crocus sativus L. known as saffron, is a popular food condiment with a high aroma, deep colour, and long and thick threads (stigmas) cultivated in Iran, Morocco, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, France, Turkey, and India. In 'Ayurveda', saffron is acknowledged for its immunostimulant, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic, liver tonic, nervine tonic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue, febrifuge, sedative, relaxant, and anxiolytic activities. The renowned Persian physician and philosopher, Avicenna, delineated saffron as an antidepressant, hypnotic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, bronchodilator, and aphrodisiac in his book, the Canon of Medicine...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS), as a demyelinating disease correlated with inflammation and oxidative stress, affects the central nervous system and causes a wide range of complications, including psychiatric disorders. Considering the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties associated with the bioactive components of saffron, such as crocin (trans-crocetin bis(β-d-gentiobiosyl) ester), and their potential impact on ameliorating psychiatric symptoms, our study aimed to investigate the effect of crocin on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and mental health, e...

BACKGROUND: Crocin, a glycosylated apocarotenoid pigment predominantly found in saffron, has garnered significant interest in the field of biotechnology for its bioactive properties. Traditional production of crocins and their aglycone, crocetin, typically involves extraction from crocin-producing plants. This study aimed to develop an alternative biosynthetic method for these compounds by engineering the metabolic pathways of zeaxanthin, crocetin, and crocin in Escherichia coli strains...

Background and Objectives : Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is mostly linked to inflammation and has been validated as a molecular target for treating inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to identify novel compounds that could inhibit COX-2, which is associated with various diseases including inflammation, and in such a scenario, plant-derived biomolecules have been considered as attractive candidates. Materials and Methods : In the present study, physiochemical properties and toxicity of natural compounds/drugs were determined by SWISSADME and ProTox-II...

Crocins are glucosylated apocarotenoids present in flowers and fruits of a few plant species, including saffron, gardenia, and Buddleja. The biosynthesis of crocins in these plants has been unraveled, and the enzymes engineered for the production of crocins in heterologous systems. Mullein (Verbascum sp.) has been identified as a new source of crocins and picrocrocin. In this work, we have identified eight enzymes involved in the cleavage of carotenoids in two Verbascum species, V. giganteum and V. sinuatum...

Crocin, a glycoside of crocetin, has been known as the principal component responsible for saffron's antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Crocetin, originating from the hydrolytic cleavage of crocin in biological systems, was subjected to ligand-based virtual screening in this investigation. Subsequent biochemical analysis unveiled crocetin, not crocin, as a novel dual GPR40 and GPR120 agonist, demonstrating a marked preference for GPR40 and GPR120 over peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)γ...

Considering the interest in the bioactive properties of saffron ( Crocus sativus L.), as well as its limited production and high price, saffron-based food supplements (SFS) are highly susceptible to adulteration. However, their complex composition and the wide variety of potential fraudulent practices make the comprehensive assessment of SFS quality a challenging task that has been scarcely addressed. To that aim, a new multianalytical strategy based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS) was developed and validated in order to detect different frauds affecting SFS...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction (ZZHPD), as a representative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for the treatment of depression, has frequently triggered hepatorenal toxicity in recent years. However, its toxic effect, material basis, and underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the hepatorenal toxicity-material basis-quality markers (Q-markers) and multiple mechanisms of ZZHPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ZZHPD-induced rat model of toxicity was evaluated by behavioral indicators, biochemical parameters, histopathological sections...

Crocins are important natural products predominantly obtained from the stigma of saffron, and that can be utilized as a medicinal compound, spice, and colorant with significant promise in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 2 ( Cs CCD2) is a crucial limiting enzyme that has been reported to be responsible for the cleavage of zeaxanthin in the crocin biosynthetic pathway. However, the catalytic activity of Cs CCD2 on β-carotene/lycopene remains elusive, and the soluble expression of Cs CCD2 remains a big challenge...

The potential therapeutic benefits of saffron and its active constituents have been investigated for the treatment of numerous illnesses. In this review, the impacts of saffron and its essential components on the levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different diseases have been delineated. Relevant articles were obtained through databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to the end of November 2022. miRNA expression has been altered by saffron and its active substances (crocin, crocetin, and safranal) which has been of great advantage in treating diseases such as cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, cancers, gastrointestinal and liver disorders, central and peripheral nervous system disorders, asthma, osteoarthritis, ischemic-reperfusion induced injury conditions, and renal disorder...

Application of herbal medicines in the treatment of diseases is in the center of attention of medical scientific societies. Saffron (Cricus sativus L.) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Iridaceae family with different therapeutic properties. The outcomes of human and animal experiments indicate that therapeutic impacts of saffron and its constituents, crocin, crocetin, and safranal, mainly are mediated via inhibiting the inflammatory reactions and scavenging free radicals. It has been suggested that saffron and crocin extracted from it also up-regulate the expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), down-regulate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and untimely improve the body organs dysfunction...

Gastric cancer (GC) remains the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world, and ninety-five percent of GC are stomach adenocarcinomas (STAD). The active ingredients of Croci Stigma, such as Isorhamnetin, Crocin, Crocetin and Kaempferol, all have antitumor activity. However, their chemical and pharmacological profiles remain to be elusive. In this study, network pharmacology was used to characterize the action mechanism of Croci Stigma. All compounds were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and active ingredients were selected by their oral bioavailability and drug-likeness index...

BACKGROUND: Depression is a debilitating condition that affects the mind and the individual's body. The improving effects of saffron on depression and anxiety have long been discussed, with limited information about the molecular mechanism of action. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Investigating the effect of saffron carotenoids, Crocin and Crocetin, on depression and anxiety in rats by emphasizing some signaling pathways involved. STUDY DESIGN: Depression and anxiety were induced in rats via unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)...

This review aims to evaluate the state of saffron's main bioactive compounds and their relationship with its commercial quality. Saffron is the commercial name for the dried red stigmas of the Crocus sativus L. flower. It owes its sensory and functional properties mainly to the presence of its carotenoid derivatives, synthesized throughout flowering and also during the whole production process. These compounds include crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which are bioactive metabolites. Saffron's commercial value is determined according to the ISO/TS3632 standard that determines their main apocatotenoids...

Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is widely used as a traditional spice for flavoring, coloring and medicinal purposes. As a traditional Chinese herb, saffron promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, cools and detoxifies the blood, relieves depression and calms the mind. According to modern pharmacological studies, the active constituents of saffron, including crocetin, safranal and crocus aldehyde, exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial function-improving and antidepressant effects. Thus, saffron has the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and impaired mitochondrial function, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral ischemia...

In order to valorize the species Crocus sativus from Morocco and to prepare new products with high added value that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, our interest was focused on the phytochemical characterization and the biological and pharmacological properties of the stigmas of this plant. For this purpose, the essential oil of this species, extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by GC-MS, revealed a predominance of phorone (12.90%); (R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol (11...