Saffron (Crocus sativus) in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers: Current findings and potential mechanisms of action

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are major causes of cancer‐related mortality worldwide and include malignancies of the GI tract such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Promising and selective anticancer effects of pharmacologically active components of saffron (Crocus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cellular biochemistry 2019-10, Vol.120 (10), p.16330-16339
Main Authors: Naeimi, Maryam, Shafiee, Mojtaba, Kermanshahi, Farnoush, Khorasanchi, Zahra, Khazaei, Majid, Ryzhikov, Mikhail, Avan, Amir, Gorji, Narjes, Hassanian, Seyed M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anticancer properties
Apoptosis
Cancer
Cell cycle
Colon
crocetin
crocin
Crocus sativus
gastrointestinal cancers
Gastrointestinal tract
Immune response
Immune system
In vivo methods and tests
Inflammation
Literature reviews
Pancreas
Rectum
Saffron
safranal
Small intestine
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Summary:Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are major causes of cancer‐related mortality worldwide and include malignancies of the GI tract such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Promising and selective anticancer effects of pharmacologically active components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been shown in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Saffron and its active components including crocin, crocetin, and safranal exert their anticancer effects through different mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, influence on the cell cycle, and regulation of host immune response and anti‐inflammatory activities. This review summarizes the recent literature on the chemopreventive properties of saffron in GI cancers to have a better understanding of the potential underlying mechanisms and hence the appropriate management of these malignancies. Saffron and its active pharmacological constituents modulate the pathogenesis of cancer via regulating apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, oxidation‐reduction state, and inflammation. This review summarizes the recent findings regarding the chemopreventive properties of saffron in gastrointestinal cancers for a better understanding and hence better management of these malignancies.
ISSN:0730-2312
1097-4644
DOI:10.1002/jcb.29126