Pharmacological Properties of Crocetin and Crocin (Digentiobiosyl Ester of Crocetin) from Saffron

Abstract

Functional plant foods and medicinal herbs provide a wide variety of natural products for new drug research and development. Crocetin and crocin (digentiobiosyl ester of crocetin) are the major bioactive ingredients of saffron which is used as a costly spice, food colorant and traditional herbal medicine. These particular carotenoids have gained much research attention for their extensive pharmacological activities. Following oral administration, crocetin is rapidly absorbed into the blood circulation and widely distributed into the extra-vascular tissues of the body, whereas the water-soluble compound crocin is hardly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Crocetin and crocin have been shown to be effective in the prevention and/or treatment of several diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, hemorrhagic shock, cancer and cerebral injury. The compounds exert their biological and pharmacological effects largely through their strong antioxidant activity. However, there seems to be substantial variation in the effectiveness of both phytochemicals when used in different diseases. The aim of this review is to discuss the pharmacokinetic and medicinal properties of crocetin and crocin based on related literature and our research results.

PTR-TOF-MS and HPLC analysis in the characterization of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) from Italy and Iran

“…The dried, red stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) are a very expensive spice known as saffron, which is used as a food flavoring, a coloring agent and as a traditional herbal medicine (Xi & Qian, 2006). The postharvest dehydration process is necessary to convert C. sativus stigma into the saffron spice.…”

Crocetin and related oxygen diffusion‐enhancing compounds: Review of chemical synthesis, pharmacology, clinical development, and novel therapeutic applications

“…It has also been used in Tibet as a tonic for the cardiovascular and nervous system. Modern studies showed that 4 , along with its derivatives could be useful in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, coronary heart diseases and hypertension (Xi & Qian, 2006 ). As mentioned earlier, various investigations demonstrated the effectiveness of 4 in increasing oxygen diffusivity and oxygen consumption by the body tissues (Xi & Qian, 2006 ).…”

“…However, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. The copious amount of water needed, coupled with a difficult irrigation process for saffron cultivation are the key reasons for its abysmally higher cost (Xi & Qian, 2006 ). Today, 1 kg of saffron costs ~US $200 (estimate).…”

Anti-Depressant Properties of Crocin Molecules in Saffron

“…This has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro [ 61 , 72 , 73 ]. Notably, crocetins are more readily absorbed than crocins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals [ 74 ]. Additionally, crocins are metabolized to crocetins when administered orally [ 74 , 75 , 76 ].…”

“…Notably, crocetins are more readily absorbed than crocins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals [ 74 ]. Additionally, crocins are metabolized to crocetins when administered orally [ 74 , 75 , 76 ]. However, it has not yet been elucidated how readily crocin is metabolized in humans.…”