Crocus sativus (Saffron) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Crocus sativus (Saffron, Safran) — family Iridacées.

Scientific synonyms : Crocus sativus subsp Orsini, C sativus subsp palliasi(M)-K, Safran officinarum-Medik.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 25 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 210 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Cancer: chemoprevention of carcinoma: liver

   Plant part used: Stigma.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Noureini SK (2012)

     Excerpt 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.

   • According to khorasany AR (2016)

     Excerpt The outcome of the above-mentioned mechanisms shows potential therapeutic properties of saffron against liver cancer, hepatotoxicity, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, stomach cancer, peptic ulcer, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, diabetes & pancreas cancer & ileum contractions. Saffron, the dried red-orange stigmas of Crocus sativus L, has been known as a flavoring agent, food coloring & traditional herbal medicine.

   • According to Iranshahi M (2011)

     Excerpt The hepatoprotective effects of aqueous & ethanolic extracts of saffron may be due to: 1- antioxidant effects & radical scavenging 2-reduction of CCl 4 metabolic activation by cytochrome P450 inhibition 3- fixation of hepatic cell membrane. Also, histopathological studies showed that aqueous and ethanolic extracts of saffron (stigma and petal) reduce the incidence of liver lesions induced by CCl 4.

   • According to Rahbani M (1985)

     Excerpt The present study was designed to assess the liver injury as a complication of diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the hepatoprotective properties of ethanolic extract of Saffron (dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L.) in streptozocin-induced diabetes in rats. At the end of the experiment, MDA contents of the liver tissue and serum levels of ALT, AST, AP and bilirubin in Groups 3 were found to be significantly increased as compared to Group 1 (p<0.05) and these serum biomarkers of hepatic injury & liver MDA level in Group 4 were significantly decreased as compared to Group 3 (p<0.05).

   • According to Azizi M (2019)

     Excerpt the present study investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Crocus sativus petal with antioxidant properties on the changes in inflammatory & enzymatic indices resulting from alcohol use in the male rats' kidney & liver. At the end of the study, the serum concentration of the inflammatory indices, renal enzymes, & hepatic enzymes experienced a significant reduction in all of the intervened groups compared to the negative control group (minimum significant difference: P<0.05) except for the treatment group 1.

2. 2

   Alcoholism, alcohol-induced kidney and liver damage

   Plant part used: Pepals.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Milajerdi A (2017)

     Excerpt Conclusion: Saffron hydro-alcoholic extract did not considerably improve renal & liver functions in T2DM patients in an 8-week randomized clinical trials. Since, saffron may improve diabetes control and indicate renal& liver protection, this study purposed to illustrate for the first time the effects of saffron extract on some liver and renal functional parameters among diabetic patients.

   • According to Azizi M (2019)

     Excerpt the present study investigated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Crocus sativus petal with antioxidant properties on the changes in inflammatory & enzymatic indices resulting from alcohol use in the male rats' kidney & liver. At the end of the study, the serum concentration of the inflammatory indices, renal enzymes, & hepatic enzymes experienced a significant reduction in all of the intervened groups compared to the negative control group (minimum significant difference: P<0.05) except for the treatment group 1.

   • According to Ramadan A (2012)

     Excerpt sativus, Propolis ethanolic extracts alone or in combination for 8 successive weeks to rats was quiet safe & didn't cause any toxic changes in liver & kidney. The possible toxicological effects & in vitro antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus & Propolis were investigated.

   • According to khorasany AR (2016)

     Excerpt The outcome of the above-mentioned mechanisms shows potential therapeutic properties of saffron against liver cancer, hepatotoxicity, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, stomach cancer, peptic ulcer, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, diabetes & pancreas cancer & ileum contractions. Saffron, the dried red-orange stigmas of Crocus sativus L, has been known as a flavoring agent, food coloring & traditional herbal medicine.

   • According to Bandegi AR (2014)

     Excerpt extract & crocin against chronic-stress induced oxidative damage of brain, liver & kidneys in rats. Protective effects of Crocus sativus L.

3. 3

   Type II diabetes mellitus

   Plant part used: Flower.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Amato PPG (2024)

     Excerpt (saffron, Iridaceae) has been traditionally used for thousands of years as herbal medicine for many diseases, including type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially in Sri Lanka. sativus powdered plant, hydroethanolic extract & crocin in reducing fasting blood sugar (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, & other metabolic parameters in patients with T2DM.

   • According to Rahbani M (1985)

     Excerpt The present study was designed to assess the liver injury as a complication of diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the hepatoprotective properties of ethanolic extract of Saffron (dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L.) in streptozocin-induced diabetes in rats. /day intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of Saffron extract; Group 3, diabetic rats; Group 4, diabetic rats were treated with saffron extract (40 mg kg -1 b.w./day, i.p.) for a period of 8 weeks.

   • According to Ouahhoud S (2018)

     Excerpt The present study investigated for the first time, the Antihyperglycemic effect of tepals & leaves of Crocus sativus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Group 1: normal control rats (N), received distilled water; group 2: diabetic control rats (D), received distilled water; group 3: treated diabetic rats (TPL), received tepal (TPL) extract; group 4: treated diabetic rats (STG), received stigma (STG) extract; group 5: treated diabetic rats (LF), received leaf (LF) extract and group 6: treated diabetic rats (GLB), received Glibenclamide (GLB).

   • According to Milajerdi A (2017)

     Excerpt Since, saffron may improve diabetes control and indicate renal& liver protection, this study purposed to illustrate for the first time the effects of saffron extract on some liver and renal functional parameters among diabetic patients. Materials & methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, 54 type 2 diabetic patients were randomly recruited to consume either 15 mg saffron extract (n = 27) or placebo capsules (n = 27) twice a day for 8 weeks.

   • According to Giannoulaki P (2089)

     Excerpt Patients-methods: 61 individuals with DMT-1, mean age 48 years old (48.3 ± 14.6), 26 females (42.6%) were randomized to receive a new oral supplement in sachets containing probiotics, prebiotics, magnesium, and Crocus sativus L. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of saffron in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (DMT-1).

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.