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Influence of Light on Essential Oil Constituents
Published in K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Gerhard Buchbauer, Handbook of Essential Oils, 2020
Marie-Christine Cudlik, Gerhard Buchbauer
Saffron is, amongst other uses, a spice consisting of the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (saffron, Iridaceae) and one of the most expensive spices in the world (Raghavan, 2006). The most abundant constituent of saffron EO, safranal, is mainly responsible for the typical saffron aroma and was found to elicit many effects on the central nervous system, such as antidepressant, anticonvulsive, hypnotic effects, and many more (Rezaee and Hosseinzadeh, 2013). Khayyat and Elgendy studied safranal epoxidation, adding 30% hydrogen peroxide and subduing the mixture to 50 hours of irradiation with a sodium lamp under nitrogen atmosphere. The photochemical reaction resulted in 2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-hept-4-ene-1-carbaldehyde (compound 1 in Figure 28.13) and diepoxy derivative 2,5,5-Trimethyl-3,8-dioxa-tricyclo[5.1.0.02,4]octane-4-carbaldehyde (compound 2 in Figure 28.13), in yields of 65% and 35%, respectively. The proposed reaction pathways are shown in Figure 28.13. Subsequent analysis of the antibacterial activity of the epoxidation products proved that the monoepoxy and diepoxy derivatives of safranal possess an increased effect against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Preclinical Antidepressant-Like Effects of Terpenes, Polyphenolics, and Other Non-Flavonoid Phytochemicals
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
Safranal, a single-ringed compound with the IUPAC designation, 2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene1-carboxaldehyde, can extracted from saffron. It in large part gives the spice its characteristic aroma. Saffron itself is used in Iran and surrounding areas as an antidepressant herb. Safranal appears to be one of several active components.
Safety and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants
Published in Dilip Ghosh, Pulok K. Mukherjee, Natural Medicines, 2019
Neeraj Tandon, Satyapal Singh Yadav
Another difficulty arises due to numerous types of phytoconstituents present in a plant, which usually interfere and influence each other pharmacodynamically and/or pharmacokinetically in a positive or negative manner. Thus the mere presence of a toxic compound, even in toxicologically significant amounts, may not always have similar profiles of efficacy and safety as it has in the whole plant material/crude extract. For example the toxic effects of safranal are reduced when an equivalent amount of safranal is administered through whole extract of saffron (Ziaee et al. 2014) and the reduction of toxic effects of reserpine due to the presence of ajmaline and rescinnamine in the Rauvolfia root extract has been noted (Chopra et al. 1948). The situation becomes more complex when two or more plants are mixed together (polyherbal preparations) and the cocktail often results in a pool of chemicals, so the resultant effect cannot be attributed to any particular ingredient.
Saffron and its derivatives, crocin, crocetin and safranal: a patent review
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2018
Maryam Rameshrad, Bibi Marjan Razavi, Hossein Hosseinzadeh
Further investigations on the action mechanism(s) of saffron and possible secondary metabolites toxicity need to be addressed, in advance to administrating as approved therapeutic drugs. In comparison with the other saffron active constituents, safranal is more toxic [202]. Animal studies have shown that safranal is nontoxic in acute oral administration and has low toxic effects in acute intraperitoneal route. According subacute toxicity data, some hematological and biochemical parameters are changed by safranal [203]. Strikingly, toxic effects of safranal could be diminished in coadministration with saffron aqueous extract [202]. Furthermore, it should be noticed that prenatal administration of crocin or safranal could induce embryonic malformations [204]. Investigations on human demonstrated that saffron administration (400 mg/kg, 1 week, orally) could change hematological and biochemical parameters in normal range [205] when crocin (20 mg/kg, 1 month, orally) is as safe as saffron [206].
N-Acetylcysteine and Safranal prevented the brain damage induced by hyperthyroidism in adult male rats
Published in Nutritional Neuroscience, 2022
Asmaa S. Shahat, Wafaa A. Hassan, Wael M. El-Sayed
Safranal, a main constituent of saffron, exerts pharmacological actions on central nervous system (CNS) including anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective properties. It inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin, enhances GSH level and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase accompanied with decreasing lipid peroxidation (LPO) in CNS [8]. It inhibited the DNA damage and improved hippocampal antioxidant status [9].
Inhibition of notch signalling and mesangial expansion by combined glucagon like peptide-1 agonist and crocin therapy in animal model of diabetic nephropathy
Published in Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2023
Shaimaa Nasr Amin, Eman Mumtaz El-Gamal, Laila Ahmed Rashed, Samaa Samir Kamar, Maged Ahmed Haroun
The other substance with a protective action is Saffron; the dried stigmata of the flowers of saffron. Crocin, crocetin, and safranal are the primary active constituents of saffron. Saffron, Crocin, crocetin, and safranal have high antioxidant activities (Bahmani et al.2016) and improve the insulin resistance caused by a high-fat diet (Mahdavifard et al.2016).