OBJECTIVES Crocin bleaching assay (CBA) is a new method for determination of antioxidant capacity. In CBA, addition of hydrogen to the conjugated double bonds of crocin results in reduction of crocin and increase in the absorbance at 440 nm, which is considered as a measure of antioxidant potential. Here CBA method was set up using di-gentiobiosyl crocin or α-crocin from Iranian saffron. Then, ...

Introduction: Central obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). It can increase cardio-metabolic risks through hypertension, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. Saffron and its bioactive compounds (crocin and crocetin) can modify some of metabolic disorders through multiple mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of saffron and crocin on li...

During indoleacetic acid (IAA) oxidation by horseradish peroxidase the water soluble model polyene, crocin, is bleached. IAA-oxidation and crocin bleaching are stimulated at acidic pH as well as by the monophenol p-hydroxyacetophenone. IAA oxidation and crocin bleaching are neither influenced by catalase or superoxide dismutase nor by different OH-radical scavengers, whereas both ascorbate and ...

Objectives The neurodegeneration and loss of memory function are common consequences of aging. Medicinal plants have potent protective effects against chronic neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects and molecular mechanisms of crocin on brain function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging model in rats. Materials and Methods Male Wistar rats ...

Background Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been traditionally used as a spice for coloring and flavoring in some countries cuisine. One of the main components of saffron is Crocin. Recent research have shown that crocin has various pharmacological effects. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of crocin on the Pituitary-Gonadal axis and Kiss-1 gene expression in hypothalamus and ovari...

OBJECTIVE(S) In this study, the effects of chronic administration of crocin, an active constituent of saffron, on blood pressures of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) - salt induced hypertensive rats, were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five week administration of three doses of crocin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) and spironolactone (50 mg/kg/day) in different groups of...

OBJECTIVE Crocin, as an active constituent of saffron, has many biological functions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of crocin and chlorpheniramine on local edema induced by histamine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Local edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of histamine (100 μl, 0.1%) in ventral surface of right hin...

A natural carotenoid crocin is contained in saffron and gardenia flowers (crocuses and gardenias) and is used as a food colorant. This study reports the potential inhibitory effects of crocin against inflammation-associated mouse colon carcinogenesis and chemically induced colitis in male ICR mice. In the first experiment, dietary crocin significantly inhibited the development of colonic adenoc...

Background. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery are routine treatments of breast cancer. However, these methods could only improve the living survival. Nowadays the combined therapy including herbals such as crocin is to study for improving breast cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of crocin, paclitaxel, and radiation on MCF-7 cell. Methods. To evaluate ...

Crocin, the main pigment of Crocus sativus L., has been shown to have antiproliferative effects on cancer cells, but the involved mechanisms are only poor understood. This study focused on probable effect of crocin on the immortality of hepatic cancer cells. Cytotoxicity of crocin (IC50 3 mg/ml) in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells was determined after 48 h by neutral red uptake assay and MTT test. I...