Abstract
Saffron is commonly used in traditional medicines and precious perfumes. It contains pharmacologically active compounds with notably potent antioxidant activity. Saffron has a variety of active components, including crocin, crocetin, and safranal. Oxidative stress plays an important role in many cardiovascular diseases, and its uncontrolled chain reaction is related to myocardial injury. Numerous studies have confirmed that saffron exact exhibits protective effects on the myocardium and might be beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In view of the role of oxidative stress in cardiovascular disease, people have shown considerable interest in the potential role of saffron extract as a treatment for a range of cardiovascular diseases. This review analyzed the use of saffron in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases through antioxidant stress from four aspects: antiatherosclerosis, antimyocardial ischemia, anti-ischemia reperfusion injury, and improvement in drug-induced cardiotoxicity, particularly anthracycline-induced. Although data is limited in humans with only two clinically relevant studies, the results of preclinical studies regarding the antioxidant stress effects of saffron are promising and warrant further research in clinical trials. This review summarized the protective effect of saffron in cardiovascular diseases and drug-induced cardiotoxicity. It will facilitate pharmacological research and development and promote utilization of saffron.
Highlights
Crocin, crocetin, and safranal, which are active components of saffron, have been widely studied
Oral consumption of saffron (50 mg/day for six weeks) dissolved in milk was administered to 10 healthy participants and 10 with coronary artery disease, who were compared to 10 control patients consuming milk only
Serum oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) levels decreased in the crocin group after treatment, and serum monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels decreased in the crocin and saffron aqueous extract (SAE) groups
Summary
Crocetin, and safranal, which are active components of saffron, have been widely studied. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial [71] that evaluated the potential impacts of saffron aqueous extract (SAE) and crocin on some atherosclerosis-related gene expression and serum levels of Ox-LDL and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Joukar et al [78] assessed the effects of saffron compounds on rat hearts with ISO-induced myocardial injury.
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