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, anti-inflammatory 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

Keywords:

anticancer effect , antigenotoxic , components of saffron , cytotoxic activity , natural agents.