A review of therapeutic impacts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its constituents

Abstract

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. Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX2) also is attributed to crocin. The current review narrates the therapeutic effects of saffron and its constituents on various body systems through looking for the scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from the beginning of 2010 until the end of 2022.

Effects of Crocus sativus on glycemic control and cardiometabolic parameters among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…The primary mode of action for these active ingredients involves the inhibition of inflammatory responses and scavenging of reactive oxygen species, as well as the upregulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. Additionally, they downregulate the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway while suppressing inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), ultimately leading to improved organ dysfunction [31]. Thus, it accomplishes functions such as alleviating anxiety, reducing inflammation, providing antioxidant effects, combating viral infections and cancerous growths, regulating blood sugar and lipid levels, as well as enhancing memory [29,32,33].…”

Reduced Production of Pro-Inflammatory and Pro-Catabolic Factors by Human Serum Metabolites Derived from a Patented Saffron Extract Intake

“…Among such natural products, saffron extract produced from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L. seems to have some interesting properties and could be helpful in removing chronic inflammation triggers and reducing subsequent consequences [ 18 ]. Saffron stigma contains volatile compounds, mainly terpenes such as safranal, as well as non-volatile ones such as crocins, crocetins, picrocrocins, and flavonoids [ 18 ]. Interestingly, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects of crocin have already been demonstrated in an arthritis animal model.…”

Saffron, a Potential Bridge between Nutrition and Disease Therapeutics: Global Health Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Apart from the presence of a large number of minerals, sugars, vitamins, and essential proteins, saffron possesses some very special bioactive safranal, picrocrocin, crocin, and crocetin as shown in Table 1 [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Other bioactive compounds found in the stigma include anthocyanins, carotene, lycopene, and glycoside crocins, all possessing a wide range of medicinal properties [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. For instance, crocin is reported to possess various medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, radical scavenger capacity, anti-depressant, and anti-cancer ones, and augments learning and memory [ 30 , 31 ].…”