Azerbaijani Saffron
Med: (Crocus sativus)
Saffron: An Old Medicinal Plant and a Potential Novel Functional Food
The medicinal and pharmaceutical uses of this plant largely disappeared with the advent of synthetic chemistry-produced drugs. However, in recent years there has been growing interest in demonstrating saffron’s already known bioactivity, which is attributed to the main components—crocetin and its glycosidic esters, called crocins, and safranal—and to the synergy between the compounds present in the spice.
Med: (Crocus sativus)
Saffron: An Old Medicinal Plant and a Potential Novel Functional Food
The medicinal and pharmaceutical uses of this plant largely disappeared with the advent of synthetic chemistry-produced drugs. However, in recent years there has been growing interest in demonstrating saffron’s already known bioactivity, which is attributed to the main components—crocetin and its glycosidic esters, called crocins, and safranal—and to the synergy between the compounds present in the spice.
The objective of this work was to provide an updated and critical review of the research on the therapeutic properties of saffron, including activity on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, in the liver, its antidepressant, anxiolytic and antineoplastic properties, as well as its potential use as a functional food or nutraceutical.
Keywords: saffron, crocin, crocetin esters, safranal, picrocrocin, nutraceutical, therapeutic properties, functional food
By National Institutes of Health
Compounds Responsible for the Bitter Taste
Compounds Responsible for the Aroma
Bioaccessibility, Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Saffron’s Compounds
Activity of Saffron in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System
Effect on Alzheimer’s Disease
Effect on Parkinson’s Disease
Effect on Cerebral Ischemia
Effect on CNS Tumours
Age Related Macular Degeneration
Effect on Nerve Damage Secondary to Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects
Effect on the Cardiovascular System
Effect on Liver Function
Antineoplastic Effect
Saffron as a Functional Food. Dosage for Nutritional Intervention
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