A comprehensive review of the pharmacological potential of Crocus sativus and its bioactive apocarotenoids

Crocus sativus is an herbaceous plant that belongs to family Iridaceae. It is commonly known as saffron and has been used for medicinal purposes since many centuries in India and other parts of the world. Saffron of commercial importance comprises of dried stigmas of the plant and is rich in flavono...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2018-02, Vol.98, p.733-745
Main Authors: Bukhari, Syed Imran, Manzoor, Mahreen, Dhar, M.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anticancer crocin
Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology
Antioxidant
C. sativus
Carotenoids - pharmacology
Crocetin
Crocus - chemistry
Cyclohexenes - pharmacology
Flavonoids - pharmacology
Glucosides - pharmacology
Humans
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Saffron
Safranal
Terpenes - pharmacology
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Summary:Crocus sativus is an herbaceous plant that belongs to family Iridaceae. It is commonly known as saffron and has been used for medicinal purposes since many centuries in India and other parts of the world. Saffron of commercial importance comprises of dried stigmas of the plant and is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and carotenoids. Carotenoids represent the main components of saffron and their cleavage results in the formation of apocarotenoids such as crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal. Studies conducted during the past two decades have revealed the immense therapeutic potential of saffron. Most of the therapeutic properties are due to the presence of unique apocarotenoids having strong free radical scavenging activity. The mode of action of these apocarotenoids could be: modulatory effects on detoxifying enzymes involved in combating oxidative stress, decreasing telomerase activity, increased the proapoptotic effect, inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, and by a strong binding capacity of crocetin with tRNA. The present review focuses on the therapeutic role of saffron and its bio oxidative cleavage products and also highlights the possible molecular mechanism of action. The findings reported in this review describes the wide range of applications of saffron and attributes its free radical scavenging nature the main property which makes this spice a potent chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various diseases.
ISSN:0753-3322
1950-6007
DOI:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.090