Saffron for “toning down” COVID-19-related cytokine storm: Hype or hope? A mini-review of current evidence

Mentis, Alexios‐Fotios A.; Dalamaga, Μaria; Lu, Cuncun; Polissiou, Moschos G.

doi:10.1016/j.metop.2021.100111

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Although it is principally used as a natural dye and as a flavoring in culinary preparations, several pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidepressant and anticancer, have been confirmed for saffron [3]. In a very recent study, saffron has been also indicated as a promising anti-inflammatory and antiviral herbal medicine in the prevention of severe COVID-19 symptoms [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Volatomic Fingerprint of Saffron from Campania towards Its Authenticity and Quality

Cozzolino

Stocchero

Perestrelo

et al. 2022

Foods

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The volatile profiles of eight saffron samples (seven cultivated and one spontaneous) grown in different geographical districts within the Campania region (southern Italy) were compared. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), overall, 80 volatiles were identified in the eight landraces. Among them, safranal and its isomers and other related compounds such as isophorones, which are not only key odorants but also pharmacologically active metabolites, have been detected in all the investigated samples. Principal Component Analysis performed on the volatiles’ compounds revealed that the spontaneous sample turned out to be an outlier. In particular, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile of the spontaneous saffron presented four lilac aldehydes and four lilac alcohol isomers, which, to the authors’ knowledge, have never been identified in the volatile signature of this spice. The multivariate statistical analysis allowed the discrimination of the seven cultivate saffron ecotypes in four well-separated clusters according to variety. Moreover, 20 VOCs, able to differentiate the clusters in terms of single volatile metabolite, were discovered. Altogether, these results could contribute to identifying possible volatile signature metabolites (biomarkers) or patterns that discriminate saffron samples grown in Campania region on a molecular basis, encouraging future biodiversity programs to preserve saffron landraces revealing valuable genetic resources.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Volatomic Fingerprint of Saffron from Campania towards Its Authenticity and Quality

Cozzolino

Stocchero

Perestrelo

et al. 2022

Foods

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“…Its stability in these receptors was also confirmed with MD simulations. Interestingly, saffron has been suggested to be used as a drug supplement for the treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the recent reviews and a commentary (Ghasemnejad‐Berenji, 2021 ; Husaini et al, 2021 ; Mentis et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, saffron was reported to exhibit antitumor and antiviral properties.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In silico evaluation of food‐derived carotenoids against SARS‐CoV ‐2 drug targets: Crocin is a promising dietary supplement candidate for COVID ‐19

Mujwar

Sun

Fidan

2022

Journal of Food Biochemistry

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The current COVID‐19 pandemic is severely threatening public healthcare systems around the globe. Some supporting therapies such as remdesivir, favipiravir, and ivermectin are still under the process of a clinical trial, it is thus urgent to find alternative treatment and prevention options for SARS‐CoV‐2. In this regard, although many natural products have been tested and/or suggested for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID‐19, carotenoids as an important class of natural products were underexplored. The dietary supplementation of some carotenoids was already suggested to be potentially effective in the treatment of COVID‐19 due to their strong antioxidant properties. In this study, we performed an in silico screening of common food‐derived carotenoids against druggable target proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2 including main protease, helicase, replication complex, spike protein and its mutants for the recent variants of concern, and ADP‐ribose phosphatase. Molecular docking results revealed that some of the carotenoids had low binding energies toward multiple receptors. Particularly, crocin had the strongest binding affinity (−10.5 kcal/mol) toward the replication complex of SARS‐CoV‐2 and indeed possessed quite low binding energy scores for other targets as well. The stability of crocin in the corresponding receptors was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Our study, therefore, suggests that carotenoids, especially crocin, can be considered an effective alternative therapeutics and a dietary supplement candidate for the prophylaxis and treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2. Practical applications In this study, food‐derived carotenoids as dietary supplements have the potential to be used for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2. Using in silico techniques, we aimed at discovering food‐derived carotenoids with inhibitory effects against multiple druggable sites of SARS‐CoV‐2. Molecular docking experiments against main protease, helicase, replication complex, spike protein and its mutants for the recent variants of concern, and ADP‐ribose phosphatase resulted in a few carotenoids with multitarget inhibitory effects. Particularly, crocin as one of the main components of saffron exhibited strong binding affinities to the multiple drug targets including main protease, helicase, replication complex, mutant spike protein of lineage B.1.351, and ADP‐ribose phosphatase. The stability of the crocin complexed with these drug targets was further confirmed through molecular dynamics simulations. Overall, our study provides the preliminary data for the potential use of food‐derived carotenoids, particularly crocin, as dietary supplements in the prevention and treatment of COVID‐19.

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“…27 In traditional Persian medicine several herbs have proved their effect in alleviation of symptoms associated with common viral respiratory infections. 28 29 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Iranian Polyherbal Syrup (Zufa syrup) on oxygen saturation and clinical symptoms in suspected patients with COVID-19

Borujerdi

Adeli

Mohammadbeigi

et al. 2022

Medical Gas Research

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an urgent need for investigating potential treatments. Traditional medicine offers many potential remedies that have been historically used and have the advantage of bypassing the cultural obstacles in the practice of medicine. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of Zufa syrup in the treatment of suspected patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. This triple-blind randomized controlled trial recruited patients with evidence of COVID-19 on chest computed tomography without an indication of hospital admission from March 2020 until April 2020. Participants were assessed by a physician and completed a pre-specified form to assess the duration and severity of symptoms. Patients were randomized to receive Zufa syrup (a combination of herbal medicines: Nepetabracteata, Ziziphus jujube, Glycyrrhizaglabra, Ficuscarica, Cordia myxa, Papaver somniferum, Fennel, Adiantumcapillusveneris, Viola, Viper‘s-buglosses, Lavender, Iris, and sugar) or identical-looking placebo syrup at a dose of 7.5 mL (one tablespoon) every 4 hours for 10 days. After applying the eligibility criteria, 116 patients (49.1% male) were randomized to trial arms with a mean age of 44.3. During the follow-up, Cough, dyspnea, headache, myalgia, anorexia, anxiety, and insomnia improved gradually in both groups, and showed no difference between Zufa syrup and placebo. Oxygen saturation and pulse rate had stable trends throughout the follow-up and were similar between study arms. No patient required hospital admission or supplemental oxygen therapy during the study period. To conclude, in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, Zufa syrup did not show any difference in symptomatology over a 10 days’ period when compared with placebo. Due to potential effects of medicinal plants in the treatment of respiratory infections, further studies are warranted to clarify their role in COVID-19. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Qom University of Medical Science (Ethics committee reference number IR.MUQ.REC.1398.165) on March 10, 2020 and was registered in Iranian Clinical Trial Center (approval ID: IRCT20200404046934N1) on April 13, 2020.

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Saffron for “toning down” COVID-19-related cytokine storm: Hype or hope? A mini-review of current evidence

Cited by 23 publications

References 44 publications

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Volatomic Fingerprint of Saffron from Campania towards Its Authenticity and Quality

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Volatomic Fingerprint of Saffron from Campania towards Its Authenticity and Quality

In silico evaluation of food‐derived carotenoids against SARS‐CoV ‐2 drug targets: Crocin is a promising dietary supplement candidate for COVID ‐19

Effects of Iranian Polyherbal Syrup (Zufa syrup) on oxygen saturation and clinical symptoms in suspected patients with COVID-19

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