ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical and the long-term anti-neuropathic potentials of Crocus sativus cultivated in the University botanical garden, and explore its most bioactive compounds and their underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: Phytochemical analysis and bio-guided isolation-procedures including RP-HPLC and 1H and 13C NMR utilizing biological models of diabetes, inflammation, and diabetic-neuropathy were used. Cultivated saffron (S-RCED) and Spanish-saffron stigma (S-SP) alone or in combination with Camellia sinus (CS) were investigated. Results: The RP-HPLC analyses showed the presence of picrocrocin, crocin I, crocin II, crocin I’, crocin II’, and safranal (SAF) in both S-SP and S-RCED extracts with higher-concentrations. It had been shown that SAF was the most bioactive-compound in Crocus sativus. Both S-SP and S-RCED possessed significant (P < 0.05) anti-diabetic activities in acute (6 h), subchronic (8 d) and chronic (8 weeks) models. S-RCED had been proven with more hypoglycemic potentials when compared to S-SP and SAF. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF produced significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities against carrageenan-induced inflammatory, hyperalgesic and tactile diabetic-neuropathy models, respectively. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF elevated serum catalase, reduced glutathione, and insulin serum levels, ameliorated lipid peroxidation and HbA1c levels, and histopathologically regenerated the pancreatic beta-cells. Combinations with CS showed more significant efficacy than the single component. Conclusion: The oxidative stress reduction, insulin secretagogue, and pancreatic beta-cells regeneration potentials might be responsible for the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic neuropathy activities. Thus, the cultivated Crocus sativus might be clinically useful for protecting against many serious-disorders.
ABSTRACT
The apo-carotenoid compounds represented by crocins are the main medicinal components of Crocus sativus, which have extensive anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anticancer, antidepressant, and other pharmacological activities. Biosynthetic pathways of apo-carotenoids in C. sativus include the traditional upstream route of the synthesis of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to zeaxanthin starting from mevalonate, and downstream pathway for the specific synthesis of crocetin and crocin by cleavage of zeaxanthin. This article reviews the recent research of key enzymes involved in the metabolism of apo-carotenoids in C. sativus, which facilitates further analysis of downstream pathways for the synthesis of apo-carotenoid derivatives such as crocin, and further provides a theoretical basis for the use of metabolic engineering methods to increase the production of crocins and other pharmacodynamic substances.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid molecular method for identifying saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its adulterants by PCR: amplification using specific primers and fluorescent dyes detection. METHODS: The chloroplast barcode was sequenced and analyzed to find the SNPs between saffron and its adulterants. Specific primers were designed for the SNPs, the PCR reaction systems were built and optimized, and fluorescent dyes method was used to identify PCR products. RESULTS: A 421 bp saffron identification band based on the psbA-trnH barcode sequence was screened when 100 × SYBR Green I was added into the optimized PCR product under the following condition; initial denaturation at 90℃ for 1 min, denaturation at 90℃ for 5 s, annealing at 58℃ for 5 s, 26 cycles; the saffron (Crocus sativus L.) showed strong green fluorescence under 365 nm UV lamp whereas adulterants did not. CONCLUSION: Fast site-specific PCR can rapidly identify saffron and its adulteration.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish the method for the specific chromatograms analysis of Crocus sativus, so as to distinguish the active constituents between saffron and gardenia. Methods: HPLC with ZorBax XDB-C18 column was used, the mobile phase was a linear gradient of methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid and water containing 0.5% acetic acid in 45 min, the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm and the flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min. Results: Multi batches of samples were analyzed to establish the specific chromatograms. Eight marked peaks were separated. The methodological evaluation showed that the method had a good repeatability. The active constituents between saffron and gardenia could be significantly distinguished by this method. Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid, and accurate with good reproducibility and can be used for the quality control and identification of C. sativus.
ABSTRACT
Crocus sativus (saffron), widely used in food industry as coloring or flavoring agent, is widely cultivated in Iran and other countries, such as Greece, Italy, Spain, India, China, and Japan. But modern pharmacological studies have shown its potential to promote health. In this paper, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of saffron are systematically reviewed. More than 100 compounds were isolated from saffron, primarily including terpenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones and so on. Pharmacological references showed that it had the treatment effects on diseases, such as mental disorder, neurodegenerative disease, learning and memory dysfunctions, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, ulcer, fatty liver, epilepsy, and convulsions. This review provides a reference for the further research and development of saffron.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the viral pathogens in cultivated Crocus sativus. Methods: Viral pathogen identification was carried out by the observation of virus particle morphology and cytopathology as well as the detection of DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR, and sequencing. Results: Linear virus particles of 600-900 nm in length were observed in C. sativus by negative staining under transmission electron microscope (TEM). Bundles of linear virus particles, cylindrical inclusion bodies of subdivision II, and amorphous inclusion bodies were observed in the cells of C. sativus under TEM after ultrathin-section. These observations resembled the cytopathology of infectious Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Positive result of DAS-ELISA was obtained from the leaves of C. sativus by using monoclonal antiserum against BYMV capsid protein. Positive result of RT-PCR induced by the Potyvirus specific primers (Sprimer and M4) was also obtained. Sequencing after RT-PCR revealed that the viral sequence in this diseased C. sativus had a homology of 99% with the BYMV sequence. Conclusion: The pathogenic virus of this C. sativus disease is identified as BYMV.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To establish the method of fingerprint analysis of Crocus sativus L. and compare their HPLC-FPS of eight kinds of Crocus sativus L. from different sources. METHODS: HPLC with ZORBAX SB-C 18 column was used, the mobile phase was a linear gradient of methanol containing 1% acetic acid and water containing 1% acetic acid in 40min, the detection wavelength at 312nm. RESULTS: 12 marker peaks were separated. The methodological evaluation showed that the method had a good repeatability, and the marker peak area ratio of different samples were different. CONCLUSION: This method is simple and accurate with good reproducibility and can be used for a quality control for Crocus sativus L.