Biologically active compounds and pharmacological activities of species of the genus Crocus: A review

Мykhailenko, Olha; Kovalyov, Volodumyr; Goryacha, Olga; Ivanauskas, Liudas; Georgiyants, Victoriya

doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.02.004

Cited by 91 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 135 publications

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“…Besides the culinary role of saffron, safranal and crocin isomers show bioactive properties with several therapeutics and pharmacological applications [6][7][8], altogether with other antioxidant compounds such as kaempferol derivatives [9,10]. By contrast, the interest of picrocrocin is limited since it is poorly absorbed in the gut [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

Almodóvar¹,

Briskey

Rao³

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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There are few studies about the pharmacokinetics of the low-molecular mass carotenoids crocetin or crocin isomers from saffron (Crocus sativus L.). None has been performed with a galenic preparation of a standardised saffron extract. The aim of the present research work was to study the effect of in vitro digestion process on the main bioactive components of saffron extract tablets and the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters in humans. Pharmacokinetics were calculated collecting blood samples every 30 min during the first 3 h and at 24 h after administration of two different concentrations (56 and 84 mg of the saffron extract) to 13 healthy human volunteers. Additionally, an in vitro digestion process was performed in order to determine the bioaccessibility of saffron main bioactive compounds. Identification and quantification analysis were performed by HPLC-PAD/MS. Digestion resulted in 40% of bioaccesibility for crocin isomers, whereas, safranal content followed an opposite trend increasing about 2 folds its initial concentration after the digestion process. Crocetin in plasma was detected in a maximum concentration (Cmax) in blood between 60 and 90 min after oral consumption with dose-dependent response kinetics, showing that crocin isomers from galenic preparation of saffron extract are rapidly transformed into crocetin. The results showed that this tested galenic form is an efficient way to administer a saffron extract, since the observed crocetin Cmax was similar and more quickly bioavailable than those obtained by other studies with much higher concentrations of crocetin.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

Almodóvar¹,

Briskey

Rao³

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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“…[8,9].Various plant species of the Iridaceae family are known for their magnificent decorative flowers as they are widely cultivated and wild-growing in Europe countries. At the same time, some Iridaceae plants are also known to be widely used as food, condiments or as medicinal plants [10][11][12]. Thus a high pharmacoligical potential was discovered for extracts and active constituents of plants from genes Crocus, Iris, Gladiolus and Juno [13][14][15][16][17].…”

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confidence: 99%

Comparative Investigation of Amino Acids Content in the Dry Extracts of Juno bucharica, Gladiolus Hybrid Zefir, Iris Hungarica, Iris Variegata and Crocus Sativus Raw Materials of Ukrainian Flora

et al. 2020

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The aim of this research was the comparative study of the amino acids content in the dry extracts of Iridaceae plants of Ukrainian flora: Juno bucharica leaves and corms, Gladiolus hybrid Zefir leaves, Iris hungarica and Iris variegata rhizomes, and Crocus sativus stigmas, flowers, leaves and corms. A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method has been used. Separation of amino acids in the samples was carried out using a Shimadzu GC-MS-QP2010 equipped with an Rxi-5ms (Restek Corporation capillary column (30 m long, 0.25 mm outer diameter and 0.25 µm) with a liquid stationary phase (5% diphenyl and 95% polysiloxane) after derivatization with N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-N109 methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) reagent. The results obtained have shown that extracts from the aerial parts of plants investigated have a higher amino acid content and more diverse composition than the underground organs. Experimental data showed that Crocus leaves and Juno leaves extracts contain the highest general content of amino acids—31.99 mg/g and 14.65 mg/g respectively. All samples showed a high content of L-pyroglutamic acid (0.33–12.35 mg/g). Moreover, Crocus leaves and Juno leaves extracts had the most suitable amino acids composition and are prospective for further pharmacological studies.

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“…Crocin is the major component of saffron, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and antiapoptotic, anticancer, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, antiaging, and other broad pharmacological effects [21]. At high altitude, there is a decrease in the barometric pressure and a consequent reduction in the oxygen partial pressure (PO 2 ), representing an extreme environmental condition [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Protective Mechanism of Crocin Pretreatment in Rat Submitted to Acute High-Altitude Hypoxia Exposure

Zhang

Dang

et al. 2020

BioMed Research International

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Inadequate oxygen availability at high altitude leads to oxidative stress, resulting in hippocampal neurodegeneration and memory impairment. In our previous study, we found that the cognitive dysfunction occurred when male SD rat was rapidly exposed to 4200 m of high altitude for 3 days. And we also found that crocin showed a cognitive protective effect under hypoxia by regulating SIRT1/PGC-1α pathways in rat’s hippocampus. In this article, focused on factors related to SIRT1/PGC-1α pathways, we proposed to further elucidate crocin’s pharmacological mechanism. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, hypoxia group (rats were rapidly transported to high altitude of 4200 m for 72 h), and crocins+hypoxia groups (pretreatment with crocin of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/d for 3 days). The learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze analysis. Hippocampal histopathological changes were observed by HE staining and Nissl staining. The expression of NRF1, TFAM, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and western blotting test. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were detected by the TBA, WST, and colorimetry method. Neuronal apoptosis was observed by TUNEL staining. After crocin pretreatment, the traveled distance was significantly reduced and the percentage of time in the target quadrant was significantly increased tested by Morris water maze. And neuronal damage in the hippocampus was also significantly ameliorated based on HE staining and Nissl staining. Furthermore, in hippocampus tissue, mitochondrial biosynthesis-related factors of NRF1, TFAM expression was increased; oxidative stress factors of SOD, GSH, and GSHPx expression level were increased, and MDA and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) level were decreased; antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression was increased, and proapoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 expression were decreased, with a manner of crocin dose dependent. Therefore, the cognitive protective mechanism of crocin in rat under acute hypoxia was related to promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis, ameliorating oxidative stress injury, and decreasing neuronal apoptosis.

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Biologically active compounds and pharmacological activities of species of the genus Crocus: A review

Cited by 91 publications

References 135 publications

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

Comparative Investigation of Amino Acids Content in the Dry Extracts of Juno bucharica, Gladiolus Hybrid Zefir, Iris Hungarica, Iris Variegata and Crocus Sativus Raw Materials of Ukrainian Flora

Cognitive Protective Mechanism of Crocin Pretreatment in Rat Submitted to Acute High-Altitude Hypoxia Exposure

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