A comprehensive review of the pharmacological potential of Crocus sativus and its bioactive apocarotenoids

Bukhari, Syed Imran; Manzoor, Mahreen; Dhar, Manoj K.

doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.090

Cited by 150 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 143 publications

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“…In addition to unique organoleptic properties, saffron displays a variety of health benefits and has been used in traditional medicine in various countries. Recent biomedical studies have reported several therapeutic effects of saffron, such as anti-inflammatory, antiaging, and wound-healing processes (Bathaie & Mousavi, 2010;Hosseinzadeh et al, 2012;Bukhari et al, 2018). Saffron is made up of a complex mixture of > 150 nonvolatile and volatile compounds that contribute to its overall properties, but the medical relevance of saffron is mainly attributed to crocins and picrocrocin, which are also the main constituents conferring saffron its characteristic color and pungent taste.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UGT709G1: a novel uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, the precursor of safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus)

Diretto¹,

Ahrazem

Rubio-Moraga

et al. 2019

New Phytologist

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Summary Saffron, a spice derived from the dried red stigmas of Crocus sativus, is one of the oldest natural food additives. The flowers have long red stigmas, which store significant quantities of the glycosylated apocarotenoids crocins and picrocrocin. The apocarotenoid biosynthetic pathway in saffron starts with the oxidative cleavage of zeaxanthin, from which crocins and picrocrocin are derived. In the processed stigmas, picrocrocin is converted to safranal, giving saffron its typical aroma. By a targeted search for differentially expressed uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases (UGTs) in Crocus transcriptomes, a novel apocarotenoid glucosyltransferase (UGT709G1) from saffron was identified. Biochemical analyses revealed that UGT709G1 showed a high catalytic efficiency toward 2,6,6‐trimethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐1‐carboxaldehyde‐1‐cyclohexene (HTCC), making it suited for the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, the precursor of safranal. The role of UGT709G1 in picrocrocin/safranal biosynthesis was supported by the absence or presence of gene expression in a screening for HTCC and picrocrocin production in different Crocus species and by a combined transient expression assay with CsCCD2L in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The identification of UGT709G1 completes one of the most highly valued specialized metabolic biosynthetic pathways in plants and provides novel perspectives on the industrial production of picrocrocin to be used as a flavor additive or as a pharmacological constituent.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UGT709G1: a novel uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, the precursor of safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus)

Diretto¹,

Ahrazem

Rubio-Moraga

et al. 2019

New Phytologist

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“…Crocin acts as a free radical scavenger, especially of the superoxide anions and protects the cells from oxidative damage (Singla & Bhat, ). Various pharmacological studies have demonstrated its antioxidant, anti‐hyperlipidemic, antiinflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and anticancer effects (Bukhari, Manzoor, & Dhar, ; El‐Maraghy, Rizk, & Shahin, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crocin, an active constituent of Crocus sativus ameliorates cerulein induced pancreatic inflammation and oxidative stress

Godugu

Pasari

Khurana

et al. 2019

Phytotherapy Research

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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disorder of the pancreas marked by profound inflammation and oxidative stress. Phytoconstituents presents an important toolbox of preventive strategies to combat inflammatory disorders. To this end, we selected the active constituent of Crocus sativus, crocin for evaluation against cerulein‐induced AP, owing to its promising antiinflammatory activity in acute as well as chronic inflammatory conditions. The animals were randomly divided into five groups comprising of normal control, cerulein control, crocin low dose (30 mg/kg), crocin high dose (100 mg/kg), and crocin control (100 mg/kg). Various biochemical parameters and the levels of inflammatory cytokines and p65‐NFκB were measured. The mechanism was investigated by histology and immunohistochemistry. We found that crocin significantly reduced the pancreatic edema, amylase, and lipase levels. It abrogated the oxidative stress incurred by cerulein challenge. We found that crocin modulated the pancreatic inflammatory cytokine levels. Crocin perturbed the nuclear translocation of p65‐NFκB. Crocin reverted the pancreatic histology associated with AP. Furthermore, it upregulated the expression of Nrf‐2 and downregulated the expression of IL‐6, TNF‐α, nitrotyrosine, and NFκB. Cumulatively, these results indicate that crocin has promising potential to prevent cerulein induced AP and regular intake of saffron can prove beneficial for the pancreatic health.

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“…Inhibition of AChE is suggested to be another mechanism to mediate the cognitive‐enhancing effects of saffron, although one study reported that inhibition by an extract is only by 30% (Bukhari et al, ; Pitsikas, ), so this mechanism alone may not significantly contribute to the effects of saffron on cognitive functions. Yet a separate in vivo study reported that saffron treatment ( ad libitum ) in mice protected against cognitive decline induced by aflatoxin B 1 and significantly reduced AChE activity in the brain (Linardaki, Lamari, & Margarity, ), indicating that modulation of cholinergic function may contribute at least partly to the effects of saffron on cognition.…”

Section: Phytochemicals As Nutraceuticalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been much interest in saffron as a nutraceutical to reduce cognitive decline in ageing or in age-related diseases, especially dementia. In different animal models of cognitive impairment, saffron extracts attenuate memory deficits (Bukhari, Manzoor, & Dhar, 2018;Christodoulou, Kadoglou, Kostomitsopoulos, & Valsami, 2015).…”

Section: Saffronmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of phytochemicals as nutraceuticals for cognitive functions affected in ageing

Howes

Perry²,

Vásquez-Londoño

et al. 2020

British J Pharmacology

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Cognitive decline can occur with normal ageing and in age‐related brain disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, with limited pharmacological therapies available. Other approaches to reduce cognitive decline are urgently needed, and so, the role of dietary interventions or nutraceuticals has received much attention in this respect. In this review, we examine the evidence for dietary plants and their chemical constituents as nutraceuticals, relevant to both cognitive decline in normal ageing and in dementia. Pharmacological (in vitro and in vivo), clinical and epidemiological evidence is assessed for both frequently consumed plants and their dietary forms, including tea, coffee, cocoa (chocolate), red wine, grapes, citrus and other fruits; in addition to plants used less frequently in certain diets and those that cross the blurred boundaries between foods, nutraceuticals and medicinal plants. For the latter, turmeric, saffron, sage, rosemary and lemon balm are examples of those discussed. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc

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A comprehensive review of the pharmacological potential of Crocus sativus and its bioactive apocarotenoids

Cited by 150 publications

References 143 publications

UGT709G1: a novel uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, the precursor of safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus)

UGT709G1: a novel uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, the precursor of safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus)

Crocin, an active constituent of Crocus sativus ameliorates cerulein induced pancreatic inflammation and oxidative stress

Role of phytochemicals as nutraceuticals for cognitive functions affected in ageing

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