Research progress on neuroprotective effects of geniposide and crocin from fruits of Gardenia jasminoides / 中草药

Gardeniae Fructus is the mature fruit of Gardenia jasminoides from genus Gardenia Ellis, nom. cons., Rubiaceae Family. The fruit of G. jasminoides is one of the widely used Chinese herbals and also can be used as edible resource. Geniposide and crocin are the two mainly components in the fruit, and some bioactivities of them had been proved. The protective effects and their mechanism of geniposide and crocin on the central nervous system were summarized in this paper, including diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and cerebral ischemia) and physiologic function (learning and memory), which was helpful to develop and utilize the fruit.