Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally with an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018 and a sustained rise in its incidence in both developing and developed countries. According to the WHO, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. Despite the emergence of many pioneer therapeutic options for patients with cancer, their efficacy is still time-limited and noncurative. Thus, continuous intensive screening for superior and safer drugs is still ongoing and has resulted in the detection of the anticancer properties of several phytochemicals. Among the spices, Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and its main constituents, crocin, crocetin, and safranal, have attracted the interest of the scientific community. Pharmacological experiments have established numerous beneficial properties for this brilliant reddish-orange dye derived from the flowers of a humble crocus family species. Studies in cultured human malignant cell lines and animal models have demonstrated the cancer prevention and antitumor activities of saffron and its main ingredients. This review provides an insight into the advances in research on the anticancer properties of saffron and its components, discussing preclinical data, clinical trials, and patents aiming to improve the pharmacological properties of saffron and its major ingredients.
Highlights
Saffron, a plant product derived from the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, is proposed to have useful biological properties [1]
There are a plethora of studies that have analyzed the effect and the action mechanism of the different ingredients of saffron extract and how their action could be optimized [13,14]; of great interest is the fact that saffron’s major ingredients may act synergistically against malignant cells [15], suggesting that saffron extract may be more effective than its components alone
Studies report the beneficial action of the components of saffron against a variety of diseases and especially cancer
Summary
A plant product derived from the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, is proposed to have useful biological properties [1]. Many details on the mechanism(s) of action of saffron and its components against the progression of cancer are still unknown. It seems that saffron and its major ingredients may have a pleiotropic mechanism of action against malignant cells. RDtehsepliatestth35e0i0ntyeenasrisv.e research, many details on the mechanism(s) of action of saffron and its components against the progression of cancer are still unknown. Researchers put a great deal of effort into finding molecules that can delay carcinogenesis at the earliest possible stages of its development or even reverse cancer growth In this context, it has been reported that saffron extract prevents tumor formation at an initial stage. Downregulation of N-cadherin and b-catenin expression, upregulation of E-cadherin expression
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