Inhibitory effect of Crocus sativus L. ethanol extract on adjuvant-induced arthritis

Saffron is a well-known spice produced from dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers. Apart from its wide use in food preparations, it also has a broad range of medical properties. We examined the potential anti-inflammatory effects of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) using an animal model of arthritis. Adjuvant-induced arthritis was induced in Wistar rats by injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant. The rats were then injected intraperitoneally every other day with 25–600 mg SEE/kg or dexamethasone (DEX, 2 mg/kg). Changes in body weight, paw oedema and arthritis indices were recorded over the subsequent 12 days of treatment. Results revealed that SEE particularly at the higher concentrations significantly reduced paw and tibiotarsal joint diameters and comparing with DEX caused no significant change in body weight. These observations suggest that SEE displays a considerable anti-inflammatory potency and could potentially be used as an anti-arthritic agent in control of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Protective effects of saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) on genotoxins-induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice

The modifying effects of the aqueous extract of saffron (dried stigmas of Crocus sativus Linn.) on cisplatin (CIS), cyclophosphamide (CPH), mitomycin-C (MMC) and urethane (URE) induced alterations in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were investigated in Swiss albino mice. Three doses of saffron (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight) were orally administered to mice for 5 consecutive days prior to administration of genotoxins. A significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation with a concomitant increase in the liver enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GST, GPx) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione) were observed in saffron pretreated animals compared with the genotoxins alone treated animals. However, the modulatory effects were not always dose dependent. Our data suggest that saffron may exert its chemopreventive effects by modulation of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and detoxification systems.     

藏红花乙醇溶液涂抹联合黄柏液、诺和灵湿敷治疗糖尿病合并压疮效果观察

[目的]观察藏红花乙醇涂抹压疮周围皮肤联合黄柏液、诺和灵湿敷压疮创面对糖尿病合并压疮病人治疗效果.[方法]选择糖尿病Ⅲ期压疮病人40例（60处）,随机分为观察组和对照组各20例（30处）.对照组按常规方法换药,用自制藏红花乙醇溶液涂擦创面周围皮肤;观察组在对照组的基础上加用黄柏液、诺和灵湿敷创面,观察两组疗效和治愈时间.[结果]观察组疗效优于对照组（Z=-2.260,P＜0.05）,治愈时间较对照组缩短（t＝-3.986,P＜0.05）.[结论]采用黄柏液、诺和灵湿敷糖尿痛合并压疮创面,用藏红花乙醇涂擦创面周围皮肤,可提高疗效,缩短治愈时间.     

Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial

Depression is a serious disorder in today's society, with estimates of lifetime prevalence as high as 21% of the general population in some developed countries. As a therapeutic plant, saffron is considered excellent for stomach ailments and as an antispasmodic, to help digestion and to increase appetite. It is also used for depression in Persian traditional medicine. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of the stigmas of Crocus sativus (saffron) in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in a 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized trial.Forty adult outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition for major depression based on the structured clinical interview for DSM IV participated in the trial. Patients had a baseline Hamilton rating scale for depression score of at least 18. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre and randomized trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive a capsule of saffron 30 mg[sol ]day (BD) (Group 1) or a capsule of placebo (BD) (Group 2) for a 6-week study. At 6 weeks, Crocus sativus produced a significantly better outcome on the Hamilton depression rating scale than the placebo (d.f. = 1, F = 18.89, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the two groups in terms of the observed side effects.The results of this study indicate the efficacy of Crocus sativus in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. A large-scale trial is justified.     

Protective effect of crocin on diazinon induced vascular toxicity in subchronic exposure in rat aorta ex-vivo

Abstract

Context: Diazinon (DZN) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. Although mechanism of DZN cardiovascular toxicity is primarily mediated through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, however, DZN causes remarkable atropine-insensitive hypotension in rats. It has been proved that oxidative stress is an important mechanism of DZN toxicity especially in chronic exposure. Crocin, an active ingredient of saffron, has been found to antagonize the hypotensive effects of DZN in rats, but do not reverse acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Objective: In this study the effects of DZN on contractile and relaxant responses in rat aorta as well as ex-vivo antioxidant actions of crocin have been investigated. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into 7 groups: corn oil (control), DZN (15?mg/kg/day, gavage), crocin (12.5, 25 and 50?mg/kg/day, i.p.) plus DZN, vitamin E (200?IU/kg, i.p., three days a week) plus DZN and crocin (50?mg/kg/day, i.p.) groups. Treatments were continued for 4 weeks. Contractile and relaxant responses were evaluated on the isolated aorta. Results: Our results showed that DZN not only decreased the contractile responses to KCl and Phenylephrine (PE) (p?<?0.001), but also attenuated the relaxant response to acetylcholine (ACh) (p?<?0.01). Crocin and vitamin E attenuated lipid peroxidation, improved the reduction of contractile responses by KCl and PE and restored the decrease in ACh relaxation in rat aorta. Conclusion: DZN induced vascular toxicity which may be due to oxidative stress and not to a cholinergic mechanism. Crocin improved toxic effects of DZN via reducing lipid peroxidation and restoring altered contractile and relaxant responses in rat aorta.     

Effect of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) on Coagulation and Anticoagulation Systems in Healthy Volunteers

Saffron showed some effects on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation in in vitro and in vivo studies. In a clinical trial with a limited number volunteers, saffron tablets influenced on bleeding time. In this study, the effect of saffron on plasma level of fibrinogen, factor VII (as coagulant agent), C and S protein (as anti‐coagulant agent), PT and PTT in a larger sample size was evaluated. The study was a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study consisting of 1 week treatment with 200 mg and 400 mg saffron tablets. Sixty healthy volunteers (age range 20–50 years) were selected for the study. The volunteers were divided into three groups of 20 each. Group 1 received placebo; Groups 2 and 3 received 200 mg and 400 mg saffron tablets, respectively, for 7 days (1 tablet per day). Before and after 7 days treatment and also 1 month after that, blood samples were taken. The plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, C and S protein, PT and PTT were evaluated. Statistical analysis showed no difference between groups for any of evaluated factors. This study rejected any effect of saffron with dose of 200 and 400 mg for 1 week on coagulant and anticoagulant system. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于网络药理学和反向分子对接的西红花抗肿瘤作用机制研究

目的 运用网络药理学和反向分子对接技术探讨西红花抗肿瘤的作用机制。方法 通过检索文献和从中药系统药理学数据库（TCMSP）获取西红花的主要化学成分,利用PharmMapper服务器预测西红花活性成分的潜在靶点,通过UniProt数据库将西红花潜在靶点转换为对应的靶标基因,与GeneCards、OMIM和TTD数据库获得的肿瘤相关靶点进行映射分析,得到西红花抗肿瘤的潜在作用靶点。采用Cytoscape软件构建西红花“活性成分-靶点-疾病”相互作用网络,通过String数据库进行蛋白-蛋白相互作用分析,并利用Metascape平台进行GO功能和KEGG通路富集分析。使用AutoDock、Pymol软件对活性成分与关键靶点进行分子对接验证。结果 共筛选出西红花中槲皮素、山柰酚、异鼠李素、苦番红花素和西红花苷Ⅰ等9个活性成分,可能作用于AKT1、CCND1、MMP9、EGFR、TP53等37个关键靶点,涉及P53信号通路及TNF信号通路等。分子对接显示可通过氢键、疏水作用等产生稳定结合。结论 初步探讨了西红花抗肿瘤的主要活性成分、关键靶点及通路,提示可通过诱导细胞凋亡等方式发挥抗肿瘤作用,为后...