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Introduction: Some medicinal plants have shown promising therapeutic potential for the management of the diseases. We aimed to systematically review the literature wherein the therapeutic effects of saffron have been studied on eye disorders. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google scholar and other databases using eye disorders and saffron as key terms. No strict inclusion criteria were defined, and almost all clinical studies, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies were included. The reported data in each study were extracted and then qualitatively described. Results: Finally, 78 articles were found but only 29 relevant articles were included. Nine articles were clinical trials and 20 articles were studies conducted on cellular and molecular aspects of saffron on eye disorders. According to the included studies, crocin prevented the pro-inflammatory response in retinal cells and decreased glucose levels in diabetic mice. Also, crocetin prevented retinal degeneration and saffron protected photoreceptors from light-induced damage in retinal cells. Saffron also improved visual function in age-related macular edema and decreased intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. In addition, it was shown that crocin can improve best corrected visual acuity and decrease central macular thickness in patients with diabetic maculopathy. Conclusion: The results of this review indicated that saffron and its main ingredients such as crocin could be a potential candidate for the treatment of ocular disease especially eye inflammation; however, further clinical studies are needed to confirm such efficiency.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Saffron and its active ingredient, crocin, as a natural antioxidant in the treatment of type II diabetes.A total of 150 uncontrolled type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients were selected based on inclusion criteria, randomly divided into three groups (crocin, saffron and placebo) for three months' clinical trial. Fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin level, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, kidney and liver function tests were performed before and three months after the study. The patients were followed every two weeks for possible clinical side effects.Our results showed that after three months of treatment with crocin and saffron, FBS reduction was significant in all groups (P-value 0.05). In addition, reduction of HbA1c was significant in the crocin and saffron groups compared to placebo group. Comparison between groups showed that treatment with crocin and saffron led to a significant reduction in HbA1c than placebo, and FBS level significantly reduced only in crocin compared to saffron and placebo groups. In addition, changes in lipid profile were not significant in any of the three groups. Also, there was no significant difference in liver and liver parameters in all three groups. Inter-group comparison of insulin levels showed significant difference only between the saffron and placebo groups.Crocin can be effective in controlling the level of FBS and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disabling disorder. Crocin, the active component of the saffron plant (Crocus Sativus L.) has various pharmacological activities. The present study compared the efficacy and safety of crocin and fluoxetine in treatment of mild to moderate OCD. Methods & materials Fifty patients with OCD, aged 18 to 60 years, were randomized to receive either crocin (15 mg) or fluoxetine (20 mg) capsules for 8 weeks. Eligible participants received one capsule/day in the first month, which followed by two capsules daily in the second month. The patients were evaluated using Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HARS). Results The mean Y-BOCS score in both groups decreased significantly during 2 months (p-value = 0.0001). Also, HARS score in the crocin group was changed from 17.16 to 13.04 whereas, in the fluoxetine group was decreased from 18.28 to 12.34. The results indicated no difference between the two groups in Y-BOCS and HARS score changes after 2-month trial (p-value >0.5). Also, fewer adverse effects were reported in the crocin group compared to the fluoxetine group. Conclusion According to our study, it seems that crocin is effective in treatment of patients with mild to moderate OCD with possibly fewer adverse effects compared to fluoxetine.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common side effects of diabetes. We aimed to investigate the effects of crocin and crocetin (as a deglycosylated form of crocin in blood stream) in gene expression or protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor1 (VEGFR-1), matrix metalloproteinases2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP-9) and thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) in high glucose cell culture media. Methods: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were exposed to high glucose (HG, 30 mM glucose concentration) and normal glucose (NG, 24.5 mM mannitol + 5.5 mM glucose) for six days. RPE cells were treated in four treatment groups (crocin, crocetin, Bevacizumab, and crocin + Bevacizumab). Gene expressions were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, and proteins level was evaluated by western blot. Results: Findings showed that VEGF gene expression and protein level significantly decreased in all treatment groups. In addition, reduction in VEGFR1 gene expression was significantly higher in Bevacizumab and crocin + Bevacizumab groups than other groups. Only, crocin and crocetin could reduce the gene levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. In addition, TSP-2 protein levels increased when HG cells were exposed crocin or crocin + Bevacizumab groups. Conclusion: Our data showed that crocin and crocetin have anti-VEGF function similar to Bevacizumab, act as an anti-angiogenic agent. Also, crocin and crocetin could decrease MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene levels, as inflammatory and angiogenesis factors. As a result, crocin and crocetin have protective effects against angiogenesis and inflammation in DR.

Vascular dementia (VaD) generally refers to memory deficits and cognitive abnormalities that are resulted from vascular disease. In this study, we aimed to systematically review the literature wherein therapeutic effects of medicinal plants have been studied on VaD. A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other databases using VaD, and medicinal plants as key terms. No strict inclusion criteria were defined, and almost all clinical studies were included. A total of 524 articles were found, of which only 28 relevant articles with 3461 studied patients were included to this systematic review. The results showed that medicinal plants, particularly Sancaijiangtang and Ginkgo biloba could improve behavioral and psychological symptoms, working memory, Mini-Mental State Examination, and activities of daily living as well as neuropsychiatric features. It was also shown that the age, average progression of the disease, and the type of folk medicines effective in treating the disease are important factors in the management of VaD. The results of this review indicated that herbal therapy can be a potential candidate in the treatment of VaD; however, further studies are needed to confirm such efficiency.

High prevalence of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in some areas necessitates more investigations of the causative factors. Genetic factors that cause disruption in operation or secretion of interleukin 10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, may play a role in the intensity of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variants of IL-10 gene polymorphisms in HCV patients and their relationship with HCV disease. Fifty HCV patients and the same number of healthy individuals who were referred to hepatitis clinic in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. Genotyping for IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms in three positions (-1082 GA, -819 CT and -592 CA) was conducted by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction. Haplotype analysis was performed using PHASE software. In a recessive analysis model of the -1082 position (GG vs. AA+AG), GG genotype was more common in patients (adjusted p = 0.02; OR = 4.66 [95% CI 1.31-16.35]). Also, ATA haplotype was more prevalent in HCV patients (adjusted p = 0.061; OR = 1.87 [95% CI 0.97-3.61]). Also, ATC/GCA diplotypes were more common in controls (adjusted p=0.002; adjusted OR = 0.27 [95% CI 0.11-0.63]). Although we found a possible association between IL-10 promoter polymorphisms and HCV infection, certain genotypes or diplotypes may confer a higher risk or susceptibility for developing HCV infection.

Infection with the human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is associated with the development of several cancers, including oral, esophageal, skin, lung, and cervical. However, the association of HPVs and colorectal cancers remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between HPV infection and paraffin-embedded colorectal tissue samples in Mashhad in the northeast of Iran. Materials and methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 111 patients with colorectal cancer were subjected to DNA extraction. The quality of extracted DNA was confirmed by amplification of a b-globin fragment using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and GH20/PCO4 primers. PCR with GP5+/GP6+ primers was then performed on positive samples to evaluate the sequence of HPVs. Results: A total of 100 colorectal samples with positive results for the b-globin gene were analyzed. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 72 years (mean: 52). Sixty-four patients (56.7%) were male and 47 patients (43.4%) were female. One (1%) out of 100 patients with colorectal cancer was found to be positive for HPV DNA. Conclusion: Results of the current study suggested that HPV infection is not common in patients with colorectal cancer in our population. We concluded that HPV types that are associated with malignant transformations do not meaningfully contribute to adenocarcinoma of the colon among our population.