Further Examination of Antiradical Properties of Crocus sativus Stigmas Extract Rich in Crocins

Abstract

Data for antiradical properties of saffron extract and its bioactive constituents (crocins, crocetin) are limited and poorly discussed in comparison with those of extracts containing potent scavengers. Further examination was sought using the Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) reagent and various free radical species produced in cell-free or cell model systems. Oregano and turmeric methanol extracts, rich in well established scavengers, and also crocetin, rosmarinic acid, and curcumin, representing the major types of constituents in the three studied extracts, were used as "reference". On the same weight basis, saffron extract activity was found to be rather negligible in all cell-free systems with regard to that found for reference ones. On the contrary, in the human monocyte system, saffron extracts or free crocetin were found to reduce ROS production as effectively as the phenolic antioxidants. Our findings point out that saffron extracts exhibit a remarkable intracellular antioxidant activity that cannot be revealed using assays repeatedly applied to the evaluation of phenolic-type antioxidants.

Evaluation of antioxidant activities of bioactive compounds and various extracts obtained from saffron (Crocus sativus L.): a review

“…Referring to Ordoudi et al (2009), the results reinforced the perception of saffron bioactivity through antioxidant mechanism of action. They pointed out that saffron methanolic extracts exhibit a remarkable intracellular antioxidant activity by using a single-cell model system (human monocyte) as effectively as the selected phenolic antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid, curcumin and Trolox.…”

“…Although the importance of such characteristics for the activity of saffron water soluble carotenoids is not yet clear, it is accepted that the mechanistic paths for scavenging of free radicals are similar to those of the most known non polar carotenoids (Pham et al 2000). It is postulated when bioactive molecules crocin and crocetin absorbed into blood plasma, they may modulate intracellular oxidative stress by activation of body's natural antioxidant enzymes (Ordoudi et al 2009). Ochiai et al (2007) assessed the antioxidant activity of each crocin by monitoring the inhibition of coupled auto-oxidation of ß-carotene and linolenic acid emulsion in cell lysates.…”

Biochemical, Antioxidant and Antineoplastic Properties of Italian Saffron (<i>Crocus sativus L</i>.)

“…), stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis. A lot of plant food compounds were recognized as antiradical substance sable to prevent and rescue cell oxidative stress and several pathologies [37][38][39]. To give more information about saf- fron antioxidant elements with respect to human diet, even if saffron methanolic extract had shown a great phenolic content, we decided to only analyze the exact secondary metabolite composition of aqueous solution, because of its major cell bioavailability and absorption capacity.…”

Crocetin Induces Cytotoxicity in Colon Cancer Cells Via p53-independent Mechanisms

“…Crocetin (8,, which is the major ingredient of saffron that is responsible for its coloring property, is a lowmolecular-weight carotenoid compound characterized by a diterpenic and symmetrical structure with seven double bonds and four methyl groups. This compound exhibits antioxidant (Kanakis et al, 2009;Ordoudi et al ., 2009),…”