Moroccan saffron is mainly produced in the South, on a limited zone of about 600 ha. In 2005, the National Institute of Agronomic Research, Morocco, carried out a study on trying saffron crop in some underprivileged regions under diverse environments, as way to propose alternative crop for the socio-economic development of rural area. The preliminary results obtained during this first year are ...

BACKGROUND Due to safety concerns and side effects of many antidepressant medications, herbal psychopharmacology research has increased, and herbal remedies are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to prescribed medications for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Of these, accumulating trials reveal positive effects of the spice saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatme...

Objective-  To evaluate kidney hemodynamic response including blood flow velocity in segmental arteries shortly after administration of various dose of saffron extract (10, 40 and 90 mg/kg).   Design- Technical assessment, experimental study.   Animals- 20 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats.   Procedures- In this study, using a real-time pulsed doppler analysis, kidney hemodynamic response inc...

Background: Saffron (Crocus satious L.) provides a variety of promising preventive and therapeutic effects with non-considerable side effects. Objective: Based on our knowledge, this is the first study that simultaneously has reviewed the effect of saffron extract and its constituents on the factors associated with neuropsychological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal tract diseases. ...

Direct selective detection of erythrosine in saffron in the presence of other synthetic dyes considers its fluorescence at 532 nm excitation/548 nm emission. Saffron pre-treatment was according to the ISO 3632-2 trade standard test methods. On account of calculated quantum yield values, none of the yellow dyes is expected to interfere. Among red ones, reservations about allura red AC, azorubine...

Background and Objective Drug dependence is one of the serious problems around the world. Saffron is one of those beneficial medicinal plants which is embedded with a similar mechanism to methadone (e.g., inhibition of serotonin reuptake). Thus, it can be helpful in reducing the withdrawal symptoms. The aim of this study was to reduce the daily dose of methadone usage and reduce its side effect...

Saffron is the most expensive spice and is significantly valuable in non-oil export. Drying process of saffron is considered as a critical control point with major effects on quality and safety parameters. A suitable drying method covering standards and market requirements while it is costlty benefitial and saves energy is desirable. Solar drying could be introduced as an appropriate procedure ...

Saffron, the dried red-orange stigmas of Crocus sativus L, has been known as a flavoring agent, food coloring and traditional herbal medicine. Pharmacological effects of saffron are mainly attributed to crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. These components especially crocin, have significant effects including antidepressant and anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-cancer and other therapeutic...

Brain aging is characterized by cognitive decline and memory deficits that could be the result of oxidative stress and impaired cholinergic function. In this study, the effects of a daily, 7-day, intraperitoneal administration of saffron on cognitive functions were examined in both healthy adult (4 months old) and aged (20 months old), male Balb-c mice (n=8/group), by passive avoidance test. Wh...