Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Here we investigated the antitumor effect and mechanism of Zhejiang (Huzhou and Jiande) saffron against lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H446. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the contents of crocin I and II were determined. In vitro, MTT assay and annexin-V FITC/PI staining showed cell proliferation activit...

Introduction: The cholinergic system plays an important role in learning and memory. Administration of either extracts of Crocus Sativus (Saffron) or its constituent, crocin, reduced ethanol-induced memory impairment. Based on the above findings, we investigated the effect of crocin in antagonizing spatial learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine, a cholinergic receptor antagonist,...

Crocin is a carotenoid of the saffron extract that exhibits antitumor activity against many human tumors. However, the effects of crocin on HL-60 cells in vivo have not been evaluated. This study aimed to examine the effects of crocin on HL-60 cells in vitro and in vivo and investigate the underlying mechanisms. HL-60 cells were treated by crocin, and cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cyc...

OBJECTIVE(S) Crocin is a constituent of saffron and has many biological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) injection of crocin on sciatic nerve regeneration in male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-four rats were divided into 9 groups: groups 1-4 (intact + normal saline and intact + crocin at doses of 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg, respectively)...

Traditional knowledge can be used as a source for development of new medicines. In the present study, we compare the data on saffron in Razi's Al-Hawi book with modern scientific studies. A computerized search of published articles was performed using MEDLINE, Scopus as well as native references. The search terms used were saffron, Crocus sativus, crocetin, crocin, safranal, Razi, and Al-Hawi. ...

We investigated the cytotoxic activities of crocin and crocetin, 2 major carotenoids isolated from the stigma of Crocus sativus (saffron), on 5 human cancer cell lines and proposed their possible anticancer mechanisms. Crocetin, a glycosylated carotenoid, showed approximately 5- to 18-fold higher cytotoxicity than crocin, a carboxylic carotenoid (IC50 of 0.16-0.61 mmol/L for crocetin vs. 2.0-5....

OBJECTIVE(S) In this study, the effects of chronic administration of crocin, an active constituent of saffron, on blood pressures of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) - salt induced hypertensive rats, were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five week administration of three doses of crocin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) and spironolactone (50 mg/kg/day) in different groups of...

OBJECTIVE Crocin, as an active constituent of saffron, has many biological functions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of crocin and chlorpheniramine on local edema induced by histamine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Local edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of histamine (100 μl, 0.1%) in ventral surface of right hin...

OBJECTIVES Crocin and safranal, the major constituents of saffron, exert neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of crocin and safranal (alone or in combination with insulin) on peripheral neuropathy in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) and confirmed by blood gluc...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of crocin - a natural antioxidant derived from saffron - on cardiac reperfusion-induced arrhythmia and antioxidant systems such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA, as a marker of lipid peroxidation) levels. Rats in 4 experimental groups were administered crocin (20 m...