Biological Properties and Medicinal Use of Saffron (Crocus sativus L

From ancient times, the saffron Crocus sativus L. is widely used as drug to promote health and fight disease, especially in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Saffron is cultivated in different parts of the world, but currently mainly in Iran. In view of its wide range of medical uses, the saffron has under gone extensive phytochemical and biochemical studies and variety of biologically active ingredients isolated. Characteristic components of saffron are crocin – responsible of the colour, picrocrocin – responsible of the bitter taste and safranal – responsible odour and aroma. Saffron is non toxic in animal studies (LD50 – 20,7 g/kg), non cytotoxic in vitro studies (LD50 – 200mkg/ml). During the last decade from different laboratories of the world were reported data on the effect of saffron on coronary artery diseases; on learning behaviour; on ocular blood flow and retinal function; on blood pressure; on contraceptive, antiinflammatory and antiatherosclerosis activities; antigenotoxic and cytotoxic activities. The goal of this presentation is to summarise and discuss the scientific data on biomedical properties of saffron and main its ingredients, especially on anticancer and antitumor activities. It should be borne in mind that health benefits of saffron may be also from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals. With natural agents, such as saffron, the hope is that their availability, lack of obvious toxicity at effective dose and ability to act against different human health conditions by various mechanism, will be allow their introduction as potential medical drug in clinical trials INTRODUCTION The scientific name for saffron is Crocus sativus L. and belongs to the family of Iridaceas, the line of liliaceas. Among the 85 species belonging to the Crocus genus, saffron is the most fascinating and intriguing species. The word "saffron" is derived from the Arabic word za'faran, which translates to "yellow." Commercial saffron is made from the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, a triploid sterile plant and has a unique and distinctively pungent, honey-like flavour and aroma. Existed different theories concerning the origin and spread of the saffron. Some of scientists believe that the saffron plant is native to the Orient, other in Greece. No other flower has a more venerable documented history than saffron crocus. Saffron crocus is mainly cultivated in several countries of mild and dry climate. World-wide, 190 tons of saffron are produced each year, for a total of about $190 million (Table 1). The saffron stigma has a distinct and unique color, flavor and smell and some of the groups of chemical compounds responsible for this: Color: principal coloring pigments is crocin. Smell: The main aroma factor in saffron is safranal Flavor: The special “bitter” flavor is the glycoside picrocrocin.. Molecular structures of the four most important carotenoid secondary metabolites of saffron. Saffron was more active with parental administration than with oral. Oral administration may be improved by liposome encapsulation of the drug. Liposome encapsulation of saffron produced significant inhibitory effect on the growth of transplanted tumor cells in mice. Animal studies have found that oral administration 100 mg/kg body wt of saffron was more effective against soft tissue sarcomas in mice (Nadkarni, 1976). Usually saffron recognazed as a safe natural spice. The toxicity of saffron has been found to be quite low. The oral LD50 of saffron was 20, 7 g/kg administrated as a decoction. The oral administration of saffron extract at concentrations from 0.1 to 5 g/kg was non-toxic in mice (Abdullaev, 2002). MEDICINAL AND PHARMACEPTICAL PROPERTIES Effect on Learning Behavior and Long-term Potentiation The saffron extract and two of its main ingredients crocin and crocetin, improved memory and learning skills in ethanol-induced learning behavior impairments in mice and rats. Oral administration of saffron may be useful as treatment for neurodegenerative disorders and related memory impairment. (Abe and Saito, 2000; Abe., 1994; Sigura et al., 1995). Effects on Ocular Blood Flow and Retinal Function Crocin analogs isolated from saffron significantly increased the blood flow in the retina and choroid as well as facilitated retinal function recovery and it could be used to treat ischemic retinopathy and/or age-related macular degeneration (Xuan et al., 1999). Effect on Coronary Artery Disease Fifty milligrams of saffron dissolved in 100ml of milk was administered twice a day to human subjects and the significant decrease in lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility O O O O O