Reduction of metabolic and behavioral signs of acute stress in male Wistar rats by saffron water extract and its constituent safranal

Context: Saffron extract can inhibit the metabolic disorders induced by stress but the mechanism of action of saffron extract in the central nervous system is not clear.

Objective: The present research investigated the effects of saffron water extract and its constituent, safranal on the behavioral and metabolic signs induced by electroshock stress in male Wistar rats (W: 250–300?g).

Materials and methods: Dried saffron material and maceration method was used for extraction. Animals received intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat) or intraperitoneal (1, 5, and 10?mg/kg) administration of the extract, safranal (Fluka, Germany), or saline 5 or 30?min before stress induction, respectively.

Results: The result showed that stress elevated the corticosterone plasma (115 nmol/L) concentration in the control and intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat)-treated groups but not in groups that received extract or safranal (55 nmol/L) intraperitoneally (1, 5, and 10?mg/kg). Moreover, anorexia was reduced only in groups that received the extract (1, 5, and 10?mg/kg) or safranal (1, 5, and 10?mg/kg) intraperitoneally (50?sec). Stress increased sniffing, rearing, locomotion, and coping time, which were decreased by intraperitoneal (1, 5, and 10?mg/kg) but not by intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat) administration of saffron extract and safranal.

Discussion and conclusion: The results revealed that saffron water extract and safranal had an important impact on the reduction of both metabolic and behavioral signs of stress in male Wistar rats. Moreover, the involvement of the amygdala in this observation can be ruled out.     

栽培藏红花与藏红花培养细胞的成分对比研究

目的 :比较人工栽培藏红花和藏红花培养细胞的主要成分种类以及含量的异同。方法 :利用傅立叶变换红外光谱法 (FTIR)和高效液相色谱法 (HPLC)对两类样品进行对比分析 ,借以考察藏红花细胞的培养效果。结果 :表明不同产地的藏红花的主要成分种类和含量差异显著 ,与藏红花相比 ,藏红花培养细胞中的代谢产物种类较少 ,但是其具有抗癌活性的藏红花素A(crocinA)的含量高于藏红花 2～3倍。结论 :藏红花培养细胞的主要成分种类与人工栽培藏红花基本相同 ,但其含量差异较大 ,培养细胞现只具有部分替代性。     

Radical scavenging activity of Crocus sativus L. extract and its bioactive constituents

Radical scavenging activity is involved in aging processes, antiinflammatory, anticancer and wound healing activity. Hence, in the present study the DPPH radical scavenging activity of a natural product that possesses biological properties, an extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), grown in Crocos, Kozani (Greece), and some of its bioactive constituents (crocin, safranal) was studied.It was shown that a methanol extract of Crocus sativus exhibited high antioxidant activity, although it contains several active and inactive constituents. In trying to approximate a structure-activity relationship, two bioactive constituents of saffron extract were tested, namely crocin and safranal. Crocin showed high radical scavenging activity (50% and 65% for 500 and 1,000 ppm solution in methanol, respectively), followed by safranal (34% for 500 ppm solution). All the tested samples showed high radical scavenging activity, probably due to the ability to donate a hydrogen atom to the DPPH radical.Thus, saffron grown in Greece can be used promisingly in functional foods, drinks with antioxidant activity, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations for their antioxidant activity and probably for their antiaging activity. Saffron can also be used internally in the form of powder or other pharmacotechnical formulae as a food supplement with antioxidant properties.     

Occupational allergy in saffron workers

Sensitization to the flower of saffron, a plant commonly grown in Spain for commercial purposes, and its clinical significance as an occupational allergen were studied. The prick test and RAST, with saffron pollen, stamen, and pistil extracts, were used to evaluate the cutaneous and specific antibody responses in the studied population. Provocation tests in patients with clinical findings were used to verify the implication of saffron components in these symptoms. Fifty saffron workers were evaluated. Three of them were sensitized to saffron pollen and stamen proteins, giving prick and RAST positive values. One patient presented asthma, showing a positive bronchial provocation test, and two patients rhinoconjunctivitis, showing positive conjunctival provocation tests. Of a general allergic population of 237, 10 patients also presented cutaneous test and IgE positive to saffron. Saffron allergens (from pollen and stamens) were characterized by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting. A relevant allergen of 15.5 kDa with profilinic nature was detected and further purified by high-resolution gel filtration chromatography. No allergenic components were demonstrated in pistils. Cross-reactivity of saffron extracts was evaluated by RAST inhibition with respect to other pollen species commonly causing sensitization in the same area of study. A significant degree of cross-reactivity was demonstrated between saffron and Lolium, Salsola, or Olea. The identification of the protein components involved in the cross-reactions was investigated by blot inhibition.     

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Flower Water Extract Disrupts the Cecal Microbiome,Brush Border Membrane Functionality,and Morphology In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is known as the most expensive spice. C. sativus dried red stigmas, called threads, are used for culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal purposes. The rest of the flower is often discarded, but is now being used in teas, as coloring agents, and fodder. Previous studies have attributed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-depressant, and anticancer properties to C. sativus floral bio-residues. The aim of this study is to assess C. sativus flower water extract (CFWE) for its effects on hemoglobin, brush boarder membrane (BBM) functionality, morphology, intestinal gene expression, and cecal microbiome in vivo (Gallus gallus), a clinically validated model. For this, Gallus gallus eggs were divided into six treatment groups (non-injected, 18 Ω H₂O, 1% CFWE, 2% CFWE, 5% CFWE, and 10% CFWE) with n~10 for each group. On day 17 of incubation, 1 mL of the extracts/control were administered in the amnion of the eggs. The amniotic fluid along with the administered extracts are orally consumed by the developing embryo over the course of the next few days. On day 21, the hatchlings were euthanized, the blood, duodenum, and cecum were harvested for assessment. The results showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in hemoglobin concentration, villus surface area, goblet cell number, and diameter. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase in Paneth cell number and Mucin 2 (MUC2) gene expression proportional to the increase in CFWE concentration. Additionally, the cecum microbiome analysis revealed C. sativus flower water extract altered the bacterial populations. There was a significant dose-dependent reduction in Lactobacillus and Clostridium sp., suggesting an antibacterial effect of the extract on the gut in the given model. These results suggest that the dietary consumption of C. sativus flower may have negative effects on BBM functionality, morphology, mineral absorption, microbial populations, and iron status.     

人参藏红花不同比例对模拟高原运动时血乳酸、尿素及血常规的影响

目的:研究不同比例的人参藏红花组合物对急性高原反应的预防作用。方法:将小鼠按照体重随机分为7组:平原空白组、高原空白组、参花生药量比100∶1、50∶1、25∶1、10∶1、3∶1组。人参藏红花组合物总给药量10 g/kg。预先给予小鼠人参藏红花组合物8 d,末次给药1 h,经过低压环境及负重游泳后测定其血常规及乳酸(LD)、尿素氮(BUN)的值。结果:小鼠经过低压环境和负重力竭游泳后,参花组合物10 g/kg(参花生药量比25∶1)可使其血清乳酸增高,参花组合物10 g/kg(参花生药量比50∶1)具有较好的提高红细胞,血红蛋白,降低血小板的作用,而参花组合物各比例组对尿素氮均无明显影响。结论:人参藏红花组合物可能提高小鼠的无氧运动能力,可用于预防急性高原反应。     

Whether or Not the Effects of Curcuma longa Supplementation Are Associated with Physical Exercises in T1DM and T2DM: A Systematic Review

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world; one of its main characteristics is chronic hyperglycemia. Pharmacotherapy and other alternatives such as regular exercise are among the therapeutic methods used to control this pathology and participate in glycemic control, as well as the ingestion of plant extracts with antioxidant effects. Among the different plants used for this purpose, curcumin has potential to be used to attenuate the hyperglycemic condition triggered by diabetes mellitus (DM). Some prior studies suggest that this plant has antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential. This review aims to evaluate the antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential of curcumin supplementation in Type 1 DM (T1DM) and Type 2 DM (T2DM). The search considered articles published between 2010 and 2019 in English and Portuguese, and a theoretical survey of relevant information was conducted in the main databases of scientific publications, including the Virtual Health Library and its indexed databases, PubMed, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences—Health Information for Latin America and the Caribbean—BIREME/PAHO/WHO), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The associated use of turmeric and physical exercise has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic effects, suggesting that these could be used as potential therapeutic methods to improve the quality of life and survival of diabetic patients.     

Saffron extracts alleviate cardiomyocytes injury induced by doxorubicin and ischemia-reperfusion in vitro

Doxorubicin (DOX), a highly active chemotherapeutic drug, faces limitations in clinical application due to severe cardiotoxic effects (mainly through increased oxidative stress). Therefore, its effect is exacerbated in subjects with ischemic heart disease. We have recently reported that saffron extract (SAF), a natural compound mainly consisting of safranal and corcins, exerts a protective effect against DOX oxidative cytotoxicity in isolated rabbit hearts. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SAF exerts cardioprotection against combined ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and DOX toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. H9c2 were subjected to simulated I/R, with or without DOX treatment at reperfusion, in the presence or absence of SAF prior to ischemia or at reperfusion. We evaluated the effects of these treatments by MTT, LDH and western blot analysis. Apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining, tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester fluorescence and caspase activity. The results showed that I/R and DOX significantly decreased cardiomyocytes viability, inhibited reperfusion injury salvage kinase cardioprotective pathway, reduced contractile proteins (α-Actinine, Troponine C and MLC), increased caspase-3 expression and induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These effects were remarkably inhibited by treatment with SAF (10?μg/mL) at reperfusion. SAF activated AKT/P70S6K and ERK1/2, restored contractile proteins expression, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition pore and decreased caspase-3 activity. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SAF treatment exerted cardioprotection against I/R and DOX toxicity by reducing oxidative stress (LDH assay). Thereby, SAF offers a potential novel antioxidant therapeutic strategy to counteract I/R and DOX cardiotoxicity, paving the way for future clinical trials.