Effects of the active constituents of Crocus sativus L., crocins, in an animal model of anxiety

Pitsikas, Nikolaos; Boultadakis, Antonios; Γεωργιάδου, Γεωργία; Tarantilis, Petros Α.; Sakellaridis, Nikolaos

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2008.06.005

Cited by 127 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The results of the present study showed that 6 weeks of treatment with saffron as an adjuvant therapy to sertraline improved GAD significantly, which is in accordance with the results of the previously performed animal studies (17,18). Experimental evidence indicated to the anxiolytic effect the crocin (17,21).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Experimental evidence indicated to the anxiolytic effect the crocin (17,21). In a study carried out in mice, low doses of the aqueous extracts of saffron (56 and 80 mg/kg) and safranal (0.15 and 0.35 mL/kg) caused anxiolytic like effects, not different from that of diazepam (3 mg/kg), explained by increment in the time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus maze (18).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As saffron has previously been approved as an effective therapy in depression and when compared to SSRIs (13,14,16), it might alleviate GAD symptoms as well. In the two only preclinical studies, saffron and saffron preparations showed anxiolytic effects and also increased the total sleep time (17,18). Since up to the best of our knowledge no human studies have assessed the therapeutic effect of saffron as an adjuvant therapy in GAD patients, we designed the current study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Effect of Saffron (Crocus Satious L.) as an Add-On Therapy to Sertraline in Mild to Moderate Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2017

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Saffron (Crocus Satious L.) as an Add-On Therapy to Sertraline in Mild to Moderate Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2017

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“…This could explain the variety of effects and discrepancies found in the literature. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that saffron (Saf) and its constituents protect against damage, exerting anti-ischemic [18], anxiolytic [19], anti-inflammatory [20], and antitumor [21] properties. Maccarone et al [22] provided data showing that Saf is protective in a rat model of lightinduced retinal degeneration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Saffron reduces ATP-induced retinal cytotoxicity by targeting P2X7 receptors

Corso

Cavallero

Baroni

et al. 2016

Purinergic Signalling

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P2X7-type purinergic receptors are distributed throughout the nervous system where they contribute to physiological and pathological functions. In the retina, this receptor is found in both inner and outer cells including microglia modulating signaling and health of retinal cells. It is involved in retinal neurodegenerative disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Experimental studies demonstrated that saffron protects photoreceptors from light-induced damage preserving both retinal morphology and visual function and improves retinal flicker sensitivity in AMD patients. To evaluate a possible interaction between saffron and P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs), different cellular models and experimental approaches were used. We found that saffron positively influences the viability of mouse primary retinal cells and photoreceptor-derived 661W cells exposed to ATP, and reduced the ATP-induced intracellular calcium increase in 661W cells. Similar results were obtained on HEK cells transfected with recombinant rat P2X7R but not on cells transfected with rat P2X2R. Finally, patch-clamp experiments showed that saffron inhibited cationic currents in HEK-P2X7R cells. These results point out a novel mechanism through which saffron may exert its protective role in neurodegeneration and support the idea that P2X7-mediated calcium signaling may be a crucial therapeutic target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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“…The saffron extracts probably proved anti-stress and sedative properties, partly due to distinct proportion and synergistic impact of the active constituents. On the other hand, crocin and safranal have anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory powers that may aid to mediate this protective central impact [101].…”

Section: Stmentioning

confidence: 99%