Effects and efficacy of saffron and crocin on the Women’s health: A Review Article study

Background: Many nations have used saffron to cure numerous diseases for centuries .Saffron activities include anticonvulsive,anti‐ischemic,anti‐genotoxic ,antidote, anti‐Alzheime, hypolipidemic, anti‐inflammatory, sexual dysfunction and antioxidant effect. Saffron also offers protective effects against, cardiovascular disease,diabetes,Parkinson’s disease, depression ,cancer and tumor activity ,atherosclerosis, and other diseases.The anticancer effects of saffron are mainly due to crocin. Escribano et al showed that crocin in comparison with crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal has more anticancer potency, and is able to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells in vitro.Crocin and crocetin have significant anticancer activities in breast, lung, pancreatic, and leukemic cells.Methods: A search was carried out using Scopus, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases and local references without date restriction. The keywords for the search were: Crocus sativus, saffron, crocin, crocetin, cardiovascular, women health and immune system.Results: Saffron displayed a dose-dependent repressive effect only against human malignant cells in in vitro colony-forming test system. All isolated carotenoid ingredients of saffron demonstrated cytotoxic activity against in vitro tumor cells.In Iranian traditional medicine, saffron can improve complexion and can be used for the treatment of erysipelas. In Greek traditional medicine, it can refresh facial skin and is used to relieve liver from the dominance of bile and to cure acne, skin diseases and wounds. Also, it can make the body look more youthful and brighter.Saffron can increase the readiness of the cervix in term pregnancies and ingestion of 6 to 7 g of saffron induces the delivery. In traditional medicine saffron has been used as facilitator of difficult delivery, and it was useful in treating uterus pain and in regulation of menstrual cycle. The specified mechanisms of saffron in alleviating PMS symptoms in women have not been completely studied.Saffron neutralizes gastric acid, cleanses the stomach, increases digestion of food, strengthens liver and stomach and decreases appetite. Conclusion: Recent studied show that many of the positive effects of saffron have been established using in vitro or in vivo animal studies, The specified mechanisms of anticancer effects of saffron are not clear, but it seems that carotenoids exhibit biological activities as antioxidants, modulation of sigma-1 receptors, affect cell growth regulation, inhibition of topoisomerase II and modulate gene expression and immune response.Saffron is a safe and effective treatment in improving hot flashes and depressive symptoms in post-menopausal healthy women. On the other hand, saffron, with fewer side effects, may provide a non-hormonal and alternative herbal medicine option in treatment of women with hot flashes.It should be noted that many of the positive effects of saffron have been established using in vitro or in vivo animal studies. Further clinical research to elucidate the potential benefits or detrimental effects of saffron or crocin in humans is recommended.

Keywords:

crocin_Saffron.women health.pco