Advances on the anti-tumor mechanisms of the carotenoid Crocin

Abstract

Saffron is located in the upper part of the crocus stigma of iridaceae, which has a long history of medicinal use. Crocin (molecular formula C44H64O24) is a natural floral glycoside ester compound extracted from saffron, which is a type carotenoid. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that crocin has multiple therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-stone effects. In recent years, crocin has been widely noticed due to its considerable anti-tumor effects manifested by the induction of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, inhibition of tumor cell invasion and metastasis, enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity and improvement of immune status. The anti-tumor effects have been shown in various malignant tumors such as gastric cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. In this review, we compiled recent studies on the anti-tumor effects of crocin and summarized its anti-tumor mechanism for developing ideas of treating malignancies and exploring anti-tumor drugs.

Saffron, a Potential Bridge between Nutrition and Disease Therapeutics: Global Health Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities

“…These flavonoids and their derivatives include vitexin, orientin, kaempferol, isoorientin, naringenin, astragalin, dihydrokaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, rhamnetin, and populin [ 10 , 12 , 27 , 38 , 62 ]. Moreover, saffron-based compounds such as crocin, safranal, picrocrocin, crocusatin D-I, isophorone, lycopene, and crocetin possess a wide range of therapeutic properties ( Table 3 , [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ]).…”

NMR Study of Water-Soluble Carotenoid Crocin: Formation of Mixed Micelles, Interaction with Lipid Membrane and Antioxidant Activity

“…It is a glycosyl ester derivative of the C20-dibasic acid crocetin (8,8’-dicarotenoic acid) ( Figure 1 ). Crocin has pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-atherosclerosis activities and others [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The advantage of crocin over other carotenoids is its good water solubility, safety, and excellent physiological activity; thus, it is also used as a dye and food additive [ 2 , 7 ].…”