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The aim of our study was to explore the antioxidant potential of Moroccan saffron stigmas (SS) and examine their performance as a natural antioxidant in enhancing the stability and quality properties of edible sunflower oil (SO), with a focus on understanding the critical importance of edible oil stability for predicting quality deterioration during storage. Bearing this in mind, our research was designed to compare the efficacy of three concentrations of dried SS (at 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.6%) against tocobiol (a synthetic antioxidant) as a positive control (at 0.3% concentration). This comparison was conducted under three distinct storage conditions namely accelerated ageing (60 °C), exposure to light at ambient temperature, and darkness, to evaluate their impact on preventing severe oxidation and extending oil shelf-life. Oxidation state evolution was evaluated through peroxide value (PV), free fatty acid (FFA), anisidine value (p-AV), K270 value (conjugated trienes), total oxidation index (TOTOX), iodine value (IV), and fatty acid composition (FA). Our results revealed notable differences in stability tracking parameters. Specifically, these parameters were higher in samples stored under accelerated conditions, followed by the samples stored in ambient light, while those stored in darkness showed the highest stability among the three storage conditions. Supplementation of sunflower oil with SS and tocobiol significantly enhanced its oxidation stability. Notably, SS exhibited exceptional effectiveness in stabilizing sunflower oil regardless of SS dose, with the highest efficacy observed at 0.6%. This was evidenced by the slower rate of oxidation parameters under various storage conditions, highlighting a superior antioxidant activity compared to both the non-enriched oil and tocobiol-enriched oil. Furthermore, saffron stigmas, used as a natural supplement, contributed to the preservation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, indicating its potential as a robust source of natural antioxidants in sunflower oil. These attributes position SS as a promising alternative to synthetic antioxidants, offering opportunities to enhance the nutritional quality and extend edible oil shelf-life.

Abstract Wound healing is a complex process orchestrated by interactions between a variety of cell types, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, inflammatory cells, and bioactive factors such as extracellular matrix (ECM) components, growth factors, and cytokines. Chronic wounds exhibit delayed proliferative phase initiation, reduced angiogenesis, impaired ECM synthesis, and persistent inflammatory response. Chronic wounds are one of the main challenges to the healthcare system worldwide, with a high cost for medical services. Hence, investigation of new approaches to accelerate wound healing is essential. Phytomedicines are considered as potential agents for improving the wound healing by accelerating epithelization, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis. These natural compounds have various advantages including availability, ease of application, and high effectiveness in wound managment. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of saffron or Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) petal extract on cell survival, migration, and angiogenesis using MTT, scratch and in vitro tube formation assays. Moreover, the expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)s and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)s, respectively. The effect of the C. sativus extract on the skin of diabetic mice was also monitored. The results showed that C. sativus petal extract promoted the viability and migration of HDFs and HUVECs. Moreover, C. sativus petal extract enhanced the formation of tube-like structures by HUVECs cultured on the Matrigel basement membrane matrix, indicating its potential to stimulate angiogenesis. Gene expression studies have shown the the C. sativus extract increases wound healing by upregulation of COL1A1 and VEGF, which are crucial factors involved in collagen deposition, epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Histological analysis revealed that C. sativus petal extract enhanced vascularity and increased the number of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis, ultimately accelerating wound closure compared to wounds treated with eucerin and commercial ointment in diabetic mice. Therefore, C. sativus petal extract has potential as a herbal treatment to improve the healing of diabetic wounds.

Wound healing is a complex process orchestrated by interactions between a variety of cell types, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, inflammatory cells, and bioactive factors such as extracellular matrix (ECM) components, growth factors, and cytokines. Chronic wounds exhibit delayed proliferative phase initiation, reduced angiogenesis, impaired ECM synthesis, and persistent inflammatory response. Chronic wounds are one of the main challenges to the healthcare system worldwide, with a high cost for medical services. Hence, investigation of new approaches to accelerate wound healing is essential. Phytomedicines are considered as potential agents for improving the wound healing by accelerating epithelization, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis. These natural compounds have various advantages including availability, ease of application, and high effectiveness in wound managment. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of saffron or Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) petal extract on cell survival, migration, and angiogenesis using MTT, scratch and in vitro tube formation assays. Moreover, the expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)s and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)s, respectively. The effect of the C. sativus extract on the skin of diabetic mice was also monitored. The results showed that C. sativus petal extract promoted the viability and migration of HDFs and HUVECs. Moreover, C. sativus petal extract enhanced the formation of tube-like structures by HUVECs cultured on the Matrigel basement membrane matrix, indicating its potential to stimulate angiogenesis. Gene expression studies have shown the the C. sativus extract increases wound healing by upregulation of COL1A1 and VEGF, which are crucial factors involved in collagen deposition, epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Histological analysis revealed that C. sativus petal extract enhanced vascularity and increased the number of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis, ultimately accelerating wound closure compared to wounds treated with eucerin and commercial ointment in diabetic mice. Therefore, C. sativus petal extract has potential as a herbal treatment to improve the healing of diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, is a precious spice coming from Asia, in particular from Iran, the country leader in its production. The spice is derived exclusively from dried stigmas and it is the most expensive one in the world. The areas of application of saffron are multiple, in fact ranging across the food, drinks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sectors. As is the case with other phytochemicals, not only the final product but also saffron by-products are considered a valuable source of bioactive natural compounds. In fact, its healthy effects, especially as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories (via reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines), are well-recognized in internal medicine. In particular, its healthy effects are related to counteracting degenerative maculopathy, depression and anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer and chronic kidney disease, by promoting glucose metabolism. In this review, we summarize the most important papers in which saffron has turned out to be a valuable ally in the prevention and treatment of these pathologies. Moreover, we would like to promote the use of saffron by-products as part of a bio-circular economy system, aimed at reducing wastes, at maximizing the use of resources and at promoting environmental and economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction–Background: Data from experimental trials show that Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is considered to improve glycemia, lipid profile, and blood pressure and reduce oxidative stress. So far, clinical trials have been conducted in individuals with metabolic syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DMT-2). The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of saffron in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (DMT-1). 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. extract or placebo containing probiotics, prebiotics and magnesium daily for 6 months. Glycemic control was assessed with a continuous glucose monitoring system and laboratory measurement of HbA1c and lipid profile was also examined. Blood pressure at baseline and end of intervention was also measured. Individuals were either on a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with an insulin pump or in multiple daily injection regimens. Diabetes distress and satiety were assessed through a questionnaire and body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance. Results: At the end of the intervention, the two groups differed significantly only in serum triglycerides (p = 0.049). After 6 months of treatment, a significant reduction in the active group was observed in glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.046) and serum triglycerides (p = 0.021) compared to baseline. The other primary endpoints (glycemic control, lipid profile, blood pressure) did not differ within the groups from baseline to end of intervention, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Diabetes distress score improved significantly only in the active group (p = 0.044), suggesting an overall improvement in diabetes disease burden in these individuals but that was not significant enough between the two groups. Conclusions: A probiotic supplement with saffron extract improves serum triglycerides in well-controlled people with DMT-1 and may potentially be a valuable adjunct for enhancing glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corms serve as the primary mode of reproduction for saffron, which growth state determines the yield and quality of saffron under field cultivation conditions. In this study, fourteen rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of C. sativus. The findings of this study indicate that all of the rhizobacterial isolates have the capacity to synthesize indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellic acid. Among the 14 rhizobacterial isolates, four isolates exhibited the capability to solubilize phosphate, six isolates showed nitrogen fixation ability, and four isolates were identified as effective producers of siderophore. Only one isolate exhibited the capability to degrade 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate. As indicated by the findings from the field trials, it was observed that SR144 (Paenibacillus silvae), SR163 (Bacillus idriensis), SR269 (Pseudomonas sp.), SR307 (Stenotrophomonas sp.), and SR383 (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) had a positive impact on the fresh weight of corms and leaf length of C. sativus. Additionally, a reduction in the malondialdehyde content was observed, accompanied by an elevation in the antioxidant enzyme system in corms. Further research indicates that SR307 and SR383 cause an increase in the total bacterial count, resulting in elevated levels of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in rhizosphere soil, and the levels of soil sucrase, urease, dehydrogenase, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were also increased. Only SR383 exhibits an increase in acid phosphatase activity. Finally, the correlation analysis showed that the positive effects caused by beneficial rhizobacteria were important for the increase of corms production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of Crocus sativus L. relies exclusively on corm multiplication. As underground storage organs, corms are susceptible to a wide range of pathogens, environmental stresses, and diseases, making traditional propagation methods often ineffective with the loss of valuable material. In vitro propagation offers an alternative for the saffron culture under controlled conditions. In particular, the innovative application of the Temporary Immersion System (TIS) represents a technological advancement for enhancing biomass production with a reduction in operational costs. The current study utilized the Plantform™ bioreactor to propagate in vitro saffron corms from the 'Abruzzo' region (Italy), integrating machine learning models to assess its performance. The evaluation of saffron explants after 30, 60, and 90 days of culture showed a marked improvement in growth and microcorm production compared to conventional in vitro culture on semisolid medium, supported by the machine learning analysis. Indeed, the Random Forest algorithm revealed a predictive accuracy with an R2 value of 0.81 for microcorm number, showcasing the capability of machine learning models to forecast propagation outcomes effectively. These results confirm that applying TIS in saffron culture could lead to economically viable, large biomass production within a controlled environment, irrespective of seasonality. This study represents the first endeavor to use TIS technology to enhance the in vitro propagation of saffron in conjunction with machine learning, suggesting an innovative approach for cultivating high-value crops like saffron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron is an essential medicinal plant and cash crop on this planet having significant medicinal and commercial values. The main goals of this study are to identify and analyse the scholarly articles published in the reputed Web of Science database to know the current trend in the research and conservation of saffron all over the world. The documents were selected from the 1950–2022 time period and found 3527 documents were selected in English from different authors across the globe. There are many approaches that are targeted to visualise the author impact, countries collaboration, tree map, keywords used and conservation of saffron. Since, saffron has tremendous medicinal properties and has economic values. The study is the first bibliometric investigation from the Web of Science database reporting the data published in the form of articles and representing a standard reference for visualisation of future research in the various fields of medicine, plant science, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive spices in the world, boasting rich medicinal and edible value. However, the effective development of active natural substances in saffron is still limited. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the saffron stigma protein, and the main effect peptides have not been identified. In this study, the total protein composition of saffron stigmas was analyzed, and two main antioxidant peptides (DGGSDYLGK and VDPYFNK) were identified, which showed high antioxidant activity. Then, the stability of two peptides was further evaluated. Furthermore, our results suggested that these two peptides may protect HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage by significantly improving the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Collectively, we identified two peptides screened from the saffron protein possessing good antioxidant activity and stability, making them promising candidates for use as functional foods, etc., for health promotion. Our findings indicated that proteomic analysis together with peptide identification is a good method for exploitation and utilization of spice plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of Crocus sativus L. to obtain the saffron spice generates a large amount of biowaste, constituted mainly by the flower's tepals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant and dermo-protective effect of a complex methanolic extract of C. sativus tepals. The extract's major phenolic content was analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization, coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Then, the antioxidant in vitro activity of the extract was studied and related to their chemical composition. Likewise, the effect on intracellular ROS levels in HepG2 and Hs27 cell culture was determined in normal culture and under hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Finally, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, collagenase, elastase, and xanthine oxidase assays were carried out to determine the dermo-protective capacity of the extract. The high polyphenol content, including flavonoids and anthocyanins, explains the antioxidant effect of the extract both in vitro and in culture assays. The extract has a significant and remarkable protective capacity against oxidative stress induced in culture of the two studied cell lines. It is also remarkable in its ability to inhibit hyaluronidase, tyrosinase, and xanthine oxidase. Results pointed out this biowaste extract as a promising ingredient in the composition of cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Saffron is a medicinally important species of the Iridaceae family. Saffron’s quality depends on the concentration of secondary metabolites. In this study, GC–MS and LC–MS were utilized to dissect the different metabolites profile of two saffron produced in Iran and China. As a result, a total of 325 differential metabolites (237 from LC–MS, 88 from GC–MS) were identified. These differential metabolites were grouped into the following categories such as lipids, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, organic acids, and flavonoids in saffron from the LC–MS analysis. The differential metabolites mainly concentrated on metabolic pathways, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis. In Iran vs. China, the category of flavonoids includes Styrene, Apigenin-7-O-(6''-p-Coumaryl)glucoside, Houpulin F, Apigenin-5-O-glucoside, Tiglic acid; 2-Methyl-2-Butenoic Acid, p-Cymene, and 2,4-Nonadienal, (E,E)-. The terpenoids including downregulated Cafestol, rhodomollein XI, inumakiol G, D-Limonene, Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, 4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)- and upregulated rhodomollein XI were significantly different identified in Iran vs. China. In conclusion, the saffron from different cultivation areas possess many metabolites that are beneficial for health, including lipids, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, organic acids, and flavonoids. Thus, compared with Iran, saffron from China have a higher medicinal value. This study provides a direction for the subsequent development and utilization of saffron.

Saffron is a medicinally important species of the Iridaceae family. Saffron's quality depends on the concentration of secondary metabolites. In this study, GC–MS and LC–MS were utilized to dissect the different metabolites profile of two saffron produced in Iran and China. As a result, a total of 325 differential metabolites (237 from LC–MS, 88 from GC–MS) were identified. These differential metabolites were grouped into the following categories such as lipids, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, organic acids, and flavonoids in saffron from the LC–MS analysis. The differential metabolites mainly concentrated on metabolic pathways, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis. In Iran vs. China, the category of flavonoids includes Styrene, Apigenin-7-O-(6''-p-Coumaryl)glucoside, Houpulin F, Apigenin-5-O-glucoside, Tiglic acid; 2-Methyl-2-Butenoic Acid, p-Cymene, and 2,4-Nonadienal, (E,E)-. The terpenoids including downregulated Cafestol, rhodomollein XI, inumakiol G, D-Limonene, Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, 4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)- and upregulated rhodomollein XI were significantly different identified in Iran vs. China. In conclusion, the saffron from different cultivation areas possess many metabolites that are beneficial for health, including lipids, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, organic acids, and flavonoids. Thus, compared with Iran, saffron from China have a higher medicinal value. This study provides a direction for the subsequent development and utilization of saffron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stands as a valuable agricultural commodity, witnessing an increasing market inclination toward environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly products. The current literature on the environmental impact and profitability of saffron cultivation is limited, underscoring a notable gap in comprehending the sustainability aspects of this crop. This study utilized a comprehensive multi-model approach to assess the sustainability of annual saffron cultivation, representing the first global detailed evaluation, conducted within a European context (Southern Italy). Energy analysis, physical and monetized life cycle assessment (LCA), and life cycle costing (LCC) were used for a cradle-to-farm gate assessment. One hectare of cultivated saffron, one saffron production yield (stigma, corm, and flower), and 1 kg of stigma yield were used as functional units. The total energy input was 65,073 MJ ha−1, being 33% direct, 67% indirect, 72% renewable, and 28% non-renewable. The majority (55%) of energy is derived from corm production. For 1 kg of saffron the energy efficiency, specific energy, and productivity were 2.98, 4.64 MJ kg−1, and 0.22 kg MJ−1, respectively, while these values dropped significantly for 1 kg of stigma. The multi-indicator LCA analysis using the ReCiPe 2016 model revealed significant contributions to various environmental impact categories. Results align with prior research, pinpointing fertilization and mechanical operations as the primary drivers of diverse environmental impacts. A noticeable carbon intensity was estimated, with a relevant contribution from corm production and human labor, aspects overlooked in previous LCA studies. Saffron cultivation maintains economic viability, with production costs at EUR 98,435 per ha−1 and a net return margin of EUR 172,680 per ha−1, bolstered by the high market price and by-product revenue. Monetization of LCA results revealed that external costs were EUR 15,509 per ha−1, being only 14% of the total cost. Investments in improving yield and resource efficiency have the potential to increase the eco-efficiency of saffron cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma is an emerging non-thermal processing technology that could fulfill the food industry's need for decontamination purposes without compromising the quality if optimized in terms of plasma parameters, including feed gases, voltage, and exposure time. Different food matrices require specialized optimized processes due to the interactions between plasma and the food. In the present study, the response surface methodology was applied to optimize the radiofrequency low-pressure cold plasma processing of saffron (Crocus sativus L. stigmas.) with the aim of achieving the highest decontamination level with the least harm to metabolites. The effects of the treatment time, power, and three gas mixtures (X, Y, and Z) consisting of air, oxygen, and argon on 22 responses related to microbial load and quality of saffron were evaluated in 42 experiments. Eleven critical responses that determine the final quality of saffron were considered to calculate the desirable function as a comprehensive approach for optimization. Analyses showed that all factors significantly affected the desirable function, and the fitted linear model was significant. The optimal condition was determined as an RF power of 76 W for 26 min using the "Y" gas mixture, which reduced the total microorganisms, coliforms, Escherichia coli, molds, and yeast by 5.75, 6.71, 6.07, and 4.00 log CFU g−1 respectively. The optimal condition preserved saffron quality within category I of the ISO specification No. 3632-1. The experimental values were in accordance with the predicted values. Optical emission spectroscopy revealed that the main plasma reactive species were Ar+ species, monoatomic oxygen, O2+, O+ ions, excited N2 species, and N2+ ions. The temperature of the samples after treatment was in the range of 40–44 °C. Scanning electron microscopy of the saffron threads indicated surface etching. Our findings showed that saffron was disinfected without substantial harm to its appearance and metabolites by applying appropriate plasma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried red stigmas of Crocus sativus L. are the precious spice known as saffron. Also called "red gold", saffron has the highest price among spices due to the intense manual labour required for its production. Both the spice and violet tepals (floral waste) contain bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. In the last decades, saffron production in European countries has seriously decreased, mainly because manual labour costs have increased and the technology for its cultivation has not progressed. Its production is also challenged, e.g. by climate change and diseases. To improve the profitability of saffron, sustainable practices could be adopted to enhance the quality, productivity, and value of saffron products; inoculants of beneficial microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and industrial application of the tepals as a valuable by-product have been proposed. Recent studies on the use of bioinoculants on saffron have stated that they can limit the application of agrochemicals and improve productive and quality characteristics of this plant. Greater homogeneity in the approach to this type of study is necessary as it would help to make comparisons between bioinoculants and find optimal options for saffron cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting methods and corm depth may damage the underground corms of saffron during the dormant period in heavy rainfall areas. Consideration of proper planting methods and corm depth will lead to a higher yield of saffron. This research was conducted for two successive seasons (2020 - 2021 and 2021 - 2022) to study the influence of planting method and corm depth on the dry stigma and generative corm yield of saffron. The experiment was a factorial combination of two planting methods (ridge and flat) and three corm depths (10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm), laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results revealed that dry sigma yield (DSY) and generative corm yield (GCY) were significantly influenced by the main and interaction effects of planting method and corm depth. In flat cultivation, both DSY and GCY were considerably higher than the ridge method in both years. In the case of corm depth, 15 cm and 20 cm produced the highest DSY. The interaction effects showed that the flat method in 15cm corm depth produced more DSY and GCY. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was obtained among the days to flowering (DTF) and flowering interval days (FID) first year, the number of flowers (NF) and DSY in both years and among the DSY and the number of generative corms (> 8 g). Hence, the flat method and 15 cm corm depth are recommended for optimum yield in the study area.

Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, is a precious spice coming from Asia, in particular from Iran, the country leader in its production. The spice is derived exclusively from dried stigmas and it is the most expensive one in the world. The areas of application of saffron are multiple, in fact ranging across the food, drinks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sectors. As is the case with other phytochemicals, not only the final product but also saffron by-products are considered a valuable source of bioactive natural compounds. In fact, its healthy effects, especially as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories (via reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines), are well-recognized in internal medicine. In particular, its healthy effects are related to counteracting degenerative maculopathy, depression and anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer and chronic kidney disease, by promoting glucose metabolism. In this review, we summarize the most important papers in which saffron has turned out to be a valuable ally in the prevention and treatment of these pathologies. Moreover, we would like to promote the use of saffron by-products as part of a bio-circular economy system, aimed at reducing wastes, at maximizing the use of resources and at promoting environmental and economic sustainability.

Introduction–Background: Data from experimental trials show that Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is considered to improve glycemia, lipid profile, and blood pressure and reduce oxidative stress. So far, clinical trials have been conducted in individuals with metabolic syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DMT-2). The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of saffron in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (DMT-1). 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. extract or placebo containing probiotics, prebiotics and magnesium daily for 6 months. Glycemic control was assessed with a continuous glucose monitoring system and laboratory measurement of HbA1c and lipid profile was also examined. Blood pressure at baseline and end of intervention was also measured. Individuals were either on a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with an insulin pump or in multiple daily injection regimens. Diabetes distress and satiety were assessed through a questionnaire and body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance. Results: At the end of the intervention, the two groups differed significantly only in serum triglycerides (p = 0.049). After 6 months of treatment, a significant reduction in the active group was observed in glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.046) and serum triglycerides (p = 0.021) compared to baseline. The other primary endpoints (glycemic control, lipid profile, blood pressure) did not differ within the groups from baseline to end of intervention, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Diabetes distress score improved significantly only in the active group (p = 0.044), suggesting an overall improvement in diabetes disease burden in these individuals but that was not significant enough between the two groups. Conclusions: A probiotic supplement with saffron extract improves serum triglycerides in well-controlled people with DMT-1 and may potentially be a valuable adjunct for enhancing glycemic control.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), renowned as the world’s most expensive spice extracted from its stigmas, is an autumn-flowering, sterile triploid geophyte species (2n=3x=24) belonging to the Iridaceae family. It is propagated vegetatively through the development of daughter corms from the mother corm. Low multiplication rates of daughter corms under natural conditions and many biotic and abiotic stresses reduce productivity, thereby restraining the availability of planting material. Thus, the main objective of this work is to improve the vegetative propagation of saffron through tissue culture. The results show that soaking of explants in 0.1% (w/v) mercury chloride (HgCl2) for 10 min is more effective for explant disinfection (95%), with a survival rate of over 85%. Whereas, for the initiation phase, the in vitro culture of whole corms on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg /L of 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in combination with 3 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) was more effective, resulting in a sprouting rate of 90% with a maximum of 5 sprouted buds per explant. As for the multiplication phase, the highest number of shoots (4 shoots/single shoot explant) was observed on MS medium supplemented with 8 mg/L of BAP in combination with 0.5 mg/L of NAA. The results of this study can serve as a starting point for establishing an efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration system in order to increase the number of shoots per explant for proliferation and micro-corms formation phases by exploring other culture media with different PGR combinations.

• Genetic diversity was assessed among 14 saffron accessions using 7 SSRg markers and chloroplast DNA SNP markers. • Chloroplast DNA SNP markers detected a high level of genetic diversity among saffron accessions. • Mantel and Kendall's tests show a positive correlation between genetic distance, geographical distance, and altitudes. • SSRg markers show that the investigated saffron accessions are from a single clone. • According to chloroplast markers, Moroccan saffron originated in south-eastern Europe (Greece). The molecular characterization of C. sativus accessions is of great interest for clonal selection and preservation of valuable resources with the best productive traits and specific patterns related to local products. To analyze the genetic diversity of Moroccan saffron, fourteen new saffron accessions were evaluated, twelve of which were from Morocco and two from Kozani in Greece, and the Quercy region of France. These accessions differ by their geographical distribution and altitudes. Seven specific C. sativus Simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) primers were considered. Their combinations generated 13 monomorphic alleles across all studied accessions with an average of 1.85 allele/locus. Additionally, fourteen unique ABRII/Cs30 SSR locus sequences were obtained and registered in the NCBI database (MZ868510-MZ868523). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was also assessed considering the ABRII/Cs30 locus. By excluding gaps and missing data from the sequence alignment, 161 sites were produced. The DnaSP analysis of all accessions revealed 40 polymorphic sites, including thirty-two among the Moroccan accessions. Nucleotide diversity (PiT) was 0.03896, while the average nucleotide difference was 6.27273. The haplotype diversity (HD) of Moroccan and all accessions was 0.848 and 0.875, respectively, demonstrating a strong capacity of the ABRII/Cs30 locus to distinguish saffron accessions. The Tazenakht (TK) population was the most polymorphic, while the Low land (TB) population was monomorphic. Sequence-based genetic relationships imply that Moroccan saffron likely originated from Greece. Our results show that the SNPs approach is a powerful tool to evaluate genetic diversity among C. sativus accessions. The present molecular analysis indicates that Moroccan saffron is not a single clone. This outcome constitutes a sound basis for developing a core collection representative of the biodiversity of Moroccan saffron to conserve and enhance this critical commodity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron is a unique spice obtained by drying stigmas of saffron flowers (Crocus sativus L.). Due to its high price, economically motivated adulteration occurs relatively often. The presented study aimed to develop an effective strategy for the detection of the following potential botanical adulterants used for a saffron substitution or dilution: safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), achiote (Bixa orellana L.), red pepper (Capsicum spp.), mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.), beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). A non-target screening strategy based on ultra-high performance reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) was employed for the analysis of an aqueous ethanol plant extract. By using multivariate statistical methods, principal components analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), for processing the generated "chemical fingerprints," metabolites unique to the investigated plants could be identified. To enable routine saffron authenticity control by target screening, an internal spectral database was developed; currently, it involves 82 unique markers. In this way, the detection addition as low as 1% (w/w) of all analyzed botanical adulterants in admixture with saffron was possible. The developed method was used to control 7 saffron powder samples from the Czech market, and none of the monitored adulterants were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of Crocus sativus L. relies exclusively on corm multiplication. As underground storage organs, corms are susceptible to a wide range of pathogens, environmental stresses, and diseases, making traditional propagation methods often ineffective with the loss of valuable material. In vitro propagation offers an alternative for the saffron culture under controlled conditions. In particular, the innovative application of the Temporary Immersion System (TIS) represents a technological advancement for enhancing biomass production with a reduction in operational costs. The current study utilized the Plantform™ bioreactor to propagate in vitro saffron corms from the ‘Abruzzo’ region (Italy), integrating machine learning models to assess its performance. The evaluation of saffron explants after 30, 60, and 90 days of culture showed a marked improvement in growth and microcorm production compared to conventional in vitro culture on semisolid medium, supported by the machine learning analysis. Indeed, the Random Forest algorithm revealed a predictive accuracy with an R2 value of 0.81 for microcorm number, showcasing the capability of machine learning models to forecast propagation outcomes effectively. These results confirm that applying TIS in saffron culture could lead to economically viable, large biomass production within a controlled environment, irrespective of seasonality. This study represents the first endeavor to use TIS technology to enhance the in vitro propagation of saffron in conjunction with machine learning, suggesting an innovative approach for cultivating high-value crops like saffron.

The cultivation of Crocus sativus L. to obtain the saffron spice generates a large amount of biowaste, constituted mainly by the flower’s tepals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant and dermo-protective effect of a complex methanolic extract of C. sativus tepals. The extract’s major phenolic content was analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization, coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Then, the antioxidant in vitro activity of the extract was studied and related to their chemical composition. Likewise, the effect on intracellular ROS levels in HepG2 and Hs27 cell culture was determined in normal culture and under hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Finally, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, collagenase, elastase, and xanthine oxidase assays were carried out to determine the dermo-protective capacity of the extract. The high polyphenol content, including flavonoids and anthocyanins, explains the antioxidant effect of the extract both in vitro and in culture assays. The extract has a significant and remarkable protective capacity against oxidative stress induced in culture of the two studied cell lines. It is also remarkable in its ability to inhibit hyaluronidase, tyrosinase, and xanthine oxidase. Results pointed out this biowaste extract as a promising ingredient in the composition of cosmetics.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive spices in the world, boasting rich medicinal and edible value. However, the effective development of active natural substances in saffron is still limited. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the saffron stigma protein, and the main effect peptides have not been identified. In this study, the total protein composition of saffron stigmas was analyzed, and two main antioxidant peptides (DGGSDYLGK and VDPYFNK) were identified, which showed high antioxidant activity. Then, the stability of two peptides was further evaluated. Furthermore, our results suggested that these two peptides may protect HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage by significantly improving the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Collectively, we identified two peptides screened from the saffron protein possessing good antioxidant activity and stability, making them promising candidates for use as functional foods, etc., for health promotion. Our findings indicated that proteomic analysis together with peptide identification is a good method for exploitation and utilization of spice plants.

Planting methods and corm depth may damage the underground corms of saffron during the dormant period in heavy rainfall areas. Consideration of proper planting methods and corm depth will lead to a higher yield of saffron. This research was conducted for two successive seasons (2020 - 2021 and 2021 - 2022) to study the influence of planting method and corm depth on the dry stigma and generative corm yield of saffron. The experiment was a factorial combination of two planting methods (ridge and flat) and three corm depths (10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm), laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results revealed that dry sigma yield (DSY) and generative corm yield (GCY) were significantly influenced by the main and interaction effects of planting method and corm depth. In flat cultivation, both DSY and GCY were considerably higher than the ridge method in both years. In the case of corm depth, 15 cm and 20 cm produced the highest DSY. The interaction effects showed that the flat method in 15cm corm depth produced more DSY and GCY. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was obtained among the days to flowering (DTF) and flowering interval days (FID) first year, the number of flowers (NF) and DSY in both years and among the DSY and the number of generative corms (> 8 g). Hence, the flat method and 15 cm corm depth are recommended for optimum yield in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After being considered as a neglected product, agricultural waste is nowadays considered of paramount importance. It has become a source of many chemical compounds with industrial, pharmaceutical, and food applications. This study aims to evaluate the primary phytochemical content, the antioxidant properties, and the antimicrobial activities of different extracts of saffron flower waste (SFE) against bacterial and fungal strains involved in diverse pathologies in southern Morocco. Methods: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. The antioxidant potentials were assessed by DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene assays. The antimicrobial activity against four bacteria and four fungi was also evaluated. The findings in terms of the relationships between phytochemical content and all activities were depicted by PCA analyses. Results: SFEs contained large amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that contribute to the significant antioxidant activities. Diethyl ether (DE), n-Butanol (n-B), and Ethyl acetate (EA) fractions respectively exhibited more DPPH scavenging capacity, FRAP reducing power, and β-carotene bleaching inhibition. DE and EA have a remarkable effect mainly against Staphylococcus aureus strain, compared to Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both SFEs showed antifungal antagonism towards key fungi species involved in post-harvest mold and crop yield losses. Botrytis cinerea was more susceptible than Fusarium solani, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium digitatum. Conclusion: These results reveal new data about extracts obtained from SFE that could be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents opening new possibilities for their applications in the food system as a natural preservative and a sustainable alternative to conventional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease that involves the degeneration of cartilage and is the most prevalent form of arthritis, affecting a large part of the population. OA is a multifactorial disorder, and no single etiological mechanism has been found to be common to all forms of the disease. Currently used therapies for control of the disease are mainly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid medications. The aim of this study was to investigate the extract from Crocus sativus as a biological disease-suppressing therapy agent. Methods: Balb/c mice were injected intra-articularly with Clostridium histolyticum type IA for induction of osteoarthritis. The mice were randomized to five groups: control group, I group (CIOA untreated), II group (CIOA + 100 mg/kg/daily saffron), III group (CIOA + 50 mg/kg/daily saffron), IV group (CIOA + 25 mg/kg/daily saffron). Flow-cytometry analysis was used to study the splenocytes' phenotype isolated from the treated animals. The serum levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed with ELISA. The histological assessment was used to analyze the saffron extract effect on histopathological alterations. Results: Saffron treatment significantly decreased osteoarthritis-associated joint histological manifestations and decreased serum TNFα levels. The flow-cytometry analysis showed a decrease in pro-inflammatory immune cell subtypes in the spleen. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that saffron affected the disease progression and could be a potential therapeutic approach in osteoarthritic patients' therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to valorize the species Crocus sativus from Morocco and to prepare new products with high added value that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, our interest was focused on the phytochemical characterization and the biological and pharmacological properties of the stigmas of this plant. For this purpose, the essential oil of this species, extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by GC-MS, revealed a predominance of phorone (12.90%); (R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol (11.65%); isopropyl palmitate (9.68%); dihydro-β-ionone (8.62%); safranal (6.39%); trans-β-ionone (4.81%); 4-keto-isophorone (4.72%); and 1-eicosanol (4.55%) as the major compounds. The extraction of phenolic compounds was performed by decoction and Soxhlet extraction. The results of the determination of flavonoids, total polyphenols, condensed tannins, and hydrolyzable tannins determined by spectrophotometric methods on aqueous and organic extracts have proved the richness of Crocus sativus in phenolic compounds. Chromatographic analysis by HPLC/UV-ESI-MS of Crocus sativus extracts revealed the presence of crocin, picrocrocin, crocetin, and safranal molecules specific to this species. The study of antioxidant activity by three methods (DPPH, FRAP, and total antioxidant capacity) has proved that C. sativus is a potential source of natural antioxidants. Antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract (E0) was investigated by microdilution on a microplate. The results have revealed the efficacy of the aqueous extract against Acinetobacter baumannii and Shigella sp. with MIC ≤ 600 µg/mL and against Aspergillus niger, Candida kyfer, and Candida parapsilosis with MIC = 2500 µg/mL. Measurements of pro-thrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in citrated plasma obtained from routine healthy blood donors were used to determine the anticoagulant activity of aqueous extract (E0). The anticoagulant activity of the extract (E0) studied showed that this extract can significantly prolong the partial thromboplastin time (p < 0.001) with a 359 µg/mL concentration. The antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract was studied in albino Wistar rats. The aqueous extract (E0) showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase compared with acarbose. Thus, it very significantly inhibited postprandial hyperglycemia in albino Wistar rats. According to the demonstrated results, we can affirm the richness of Crocus sativus stigmas in bioactive molecules and its use in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus), known as “plant gold ”, has numerous functions in traditional Chinese medicine, including promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, cooling blood, detoxifying, relieving depression, and calming the nerves. Its stigma, the main medicinal part, performs extremely low yield and high price, thus the scarce resources, while its petals, the by-product, are usually discarded or employed as fertilizer or feed, resulting in huge waste, as the petals have been proved to contain various chemical components covering terpenoids, flavonoids, and glycosides, which exhibits pharmacological activities of analgesia, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, liver protection, and antidepressant. This paper aims to compare the material basis of the pharmacological similarities or differences between stigmas and petals, clarify their research status, and evaluate the potential application value of petals. As a by-product of a precious traditional herbal medicine, the petals of C. sativus have been elucidated in previous studies. This review explores the chemical constituents and pharmacological effect of stigma and petals of C. sativus, confirming their similar material bases, and the application prospect of petals.

Saffron is known as the most expensive spice in the world. It is comprised of the dried stigmas of the pistil of the Crocus sativus L., which is a cultivated, sterile crocus plant. This plant material is now recognized as the unique edible source of certain bioactive apocarotenoids for which in-vivo antioxidant properties have been reported. Among the latter, crocins, red-orange natural colorants, and their parent molecule crocetin prevail in bioactivity significance. This review is focused on the strategies developed so far for their nanoencapsulation in relation to the characteristics of the starting material, extraction procedures of the bioactive antioxidants and analytical methods applied for their characterization and quantification throughout the process. The literature so far points out gaps that lead to publishable data, on one hand, but not necessarily to repeatable and meaningful processes due to incomplete characterization of the starting and the released material in efficiency and stability studies of the nanoencapsulates. Accurate terminology and quantitative chromatographic or spectrophotometric procedures for the determination of the core compounds are needed. Authenticity control and quality of saffron samples, and the verification of the concentrations of compounds in commercial preparations labeled as 'crocin,' are prerequisites in any experimental design setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world. This plant species is propagated vegetatively through the formation of daughter corms from the mother one. Unfortunately, many factors hamper the efficient propagation of saffron through this traditional practice. For example, the low production rate of daughter corms and the risk of fungal infection, which also affect the daughter corm quality. Therefore, the conventional propagation method cannot meet the demand for planting material. The use of biotechnological tools, particularly the in vitro culture techniques, can be of great benefit for saffron propagation. Hence, in recent years, various regeneration systems through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis were established for saffron using different explant types, medium components, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and culture conditions. In the present review, the most relevant advances and main achievements made in saffron micropropagation are reported, and the major bottlenecks encountered during in vitro culture of this species and that restrict the commercial production of saffron corms and plantlets are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A cell suspension culture of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was previously established from style-derived calli to obtain an in vitro system for crocin, an uncommon and valuable water-soluble apocarotenoid, and carotenoid production suitable for future scaling up. To shed more light on the correlation between apocarotenoid biosynthesis and key-gene expression, in this study, SA was used at 0.5 mM concentration to elicit crocin production and the effects on carotenoid production were analyzed after 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. HPLC-DAD analysis was used for total crocin quantification as well as the other carotenoids zeaxanthin, β-carotene and lutein. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to analyze the transcript levels of saffron apocarotenoid biosynthetic key genes PSY (phytoene synthase), BCH1 (β-carotene hydroxylase), and CCD2 (carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase) after SA elicitation. In saffron suspension-cultured cells elicited by SA, the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was mostly enhanced toward crocin biosynthesis, known to exert strong biological activity and therapeutic effects, rather than lutein or xanthins. SA increased BCH1 and CCD2 gene expression 15.6 and 3.3 times, respectively, compared to the control at 24 h after elicitation. Although a dynamic change of metabolite contents and gene expression was observed during the 48 h time course in response to SA elicitation, the changes of zeaxanthin and crocin were consistent with the regulation of the corresponding genes BCH and CCD2 during the time course. In conclusion, the effects of SA on regulation of gene expression in the apocarotenoid pathway could be successfully applied for the biotechnological production of crocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoliposomes (NLs) (70 nm) loaded with saffron extract were produced by high-pressure homogenization and coated with chitosan with different molecular weights. The liposomal dispersions were converted to spray-dried powders afterward. The encapsulation efficiency of crocin in the NLs reached 75.86%. Upon reconstitution of spray-dried liposomes, a higher increase in size was observed in uncoated liposomes (2.8-fold) compared to chitosan-coated ones (1.8-fold). Under the acidic conditions (pH 3.5), the crocin loss was 86% in free extract, whereas only 7–20% of crocin loss was observed in liposomal samples after 48 h of incubation. When the samples were subjected to in vitro digestion, the retention of crocin in liposomal structures (71.02–92.63%) was higher than that of free saffron extract (50.72%). The release data of crocin from liposomes was best fitted to the Higuchi diffusion model and the release of crocin was sustained over time. The release rate constant was reduced by the encapsulation, the highest value (40.51) was observed in the free extract and low molecular weight chitosan-coated NLs exhibited the lowest release rate constant (5.58 and 4.44). Nanoliposomal encapsulation of saffron extract provided higher acid stability, sustained-release properties, and protection of crocin under in vitro digestion conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing consumer concern regarding food quality and composition. This study was performed to analyze the content of major inorganic nutrients, trace elements, potentially toxic elements and ash content in 48 saffron samples. These were collected from four distinct Moroccan regions: "Taliouine, Taznakht, Azilal, and Beni Mellal". The analysis was done in accordance with the guidelines set by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC). The findings of this study reveal that essential nutrient elements such as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and sodium were present in important amounts. The average content of these macro-elements was found in the following order: K > P > Mg > Ca > Na, with mean concentrations of 16500±1119 mg/kg, 3290±220 mg/kg, 1430±97 mg/kg, 960±65 mg/kg, and 75±5 mg/kg, respectively. Significant differences among sampling sites as revealed by ANOVA and principal component analysis in selected samples. Furthermore, the levels of potentially harmful elements, including nickel, arsenic, lead, and cadmium, were found below the harmful limits. These results provide valuable scientific information that supports the optimal utilization of saffron, enriching the medicinal plant database. This research sheds light on the compositional, nutritional, and safety aspects of saffron, laying the groundwork for future research in this field. [Display omitted] • Detected vital minerals/nutrients like Mg, P, Ca, K, and Na in Moroccan saffron. • Assessed trace metals Ni, As, Pb, Cd below safety thresholds/levels. • Examined saffron from Taliouine, Taznakht, Azilal, Beni Mellal. • Utilized ICP-OES for accurate mineral and heavy metal analysis/quantification. • Provided evidence for saffron's potential as a dietary and medicinal value/supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocus sativus L. is a both medicinal and food bulbous flower whose qualities are geographically characterized. However, identification involving different places of origin of such substances is currently limited to single-omics mediated content analysis. Integrated metabolomics and proteomics, 840 saffron samples from six countries (Spain, Greece, Iran, China, Japan, and India) were analyzed using the QuEChERS extraction method. A total of 77 differential metabolites and 14 differential proteins were identified. The limits of detection of the method were 1.33 to 8.33 μg kg−1, and the recoveries were 85.56% to 105.18%. Using homology modeling and molecular docking, the Gln84, Lys195, Val182 and Pro184 sites of Crocetin glucosyltransferase 2 were found to be the targets of crocetin binding. By multivariate statistical analysis (PCA and PLS-DA), different saffron samples were clearly distinguished. The results provided the basis for the selection and identification of high quality saffron from different producing areas. • Integrated metabolomics and proteomics, 840 saffron samples were analyzed • Molecular docking predicted crocetin can interact with Crocetin glucosyltransferase 2 • The Gln84, and Lys195 sites of GLT2 were found to be targets for crocetin binding • A total of 77 significantly altered metabolites in 19 categories were quantified • The accuracy of the origin of Crocus sativus L. largely determines its quality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-segment cultivation has recently been adopted to increase vegetative propagation and flower production of Crocus sativus in some Asian countries. Crocus sativus flowers (petals and stigmas) from Hangzhou (Jiande saffron with a geographical indication or GI status) and relocated daughter Crocus sativus corms from Shanghai (an origin without GI status) were investigated using stable isotopes (δ 13C, δ 15N, δ 2H, δ 18O) and elemental concentrations (%C and %N). Results showed that δ 13C, δ 15N, and δ 18O of stigma and petal samples from daughter corms originating from Hangzhou and Shanghai had significant differences between the two regions (p < 0.001), even though the Shanghai origin daughter corms were harvested in Hangzhou. Furthermore, the δ 15N values of stigmas and petals had a significant correlation (p <0.05, r = 0.566), but corresponding δ 13C and δ 2H values did not show a correlation (p >0.05). Finally, supervised PLS-DA pattern recognition models effectively discriminated stigmas and petals from crocus corms originating from the two locations. This research provides a globally-applicable mechanism to identify imposter GI Crocus sativus transferred from a non-GI origin before flowering and will enhance trust within the saffron industry. • Crocus flowers from two-segment crop systems were analyzed using stable isotopes. • Petals and stigmas from local and relocated daughter corms were compared. • Significant δ 13C, δ 15N, δ 18 O differences were seen for Crocus sativus flowers. • Large isotope differences were found between δ 2H values of stigmas and petals. • PLS-DA models of stigmas and petals confirmed Hangzhou daughter corm origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current saffron production system is generating several hundreds of tons of tepal waste, because only stigmas are used for food. Consequently, the valorization of saffron floral by-products by developing stable functional ingredients could lead to the environmental impact minimization. Thus, the main aim of this study was to develop innovative green extraction processes from saffron floral by-products by using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NaDES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as ecological extraction method. Response surface methodology was used to optimize process parameters. To improve the stability of the optimal extracts, they were incorporated into chitosan/alginate hydrogels, studying their water-uptake and water retention capacity and the total phenolic content (TPC) during the in vitro digestion. The results indicated that the optimal extraction, regarding total phenolic and flavonoid content, was achieved in 20 min, using 180 W ultrasound power and 90% of NaDES. The results of the DPPH assay revealed the potent antioxidant activity of saffron floral by-products. The chitosan/alginate hydrogels incorporating the as-obtained NaDES extracts showed favorable properties whereas the TPC remained stable under intestinal conditions. Therefore, NaDES combined with UAE was an efficient technique to isolate high added-value compounds from saffron flowers, succeeding also the valorization of discarded waste by using green and low-cost strategies. Furthermore, these novel hydrogels could be used as promising candidates for food or cosmetic applications.

A new alkaloid (compound 1), together with 8 known alkaloids (compounds 2-9), were isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus Y0107 extracts from the lateral buds of Crocus sativus Linn (saffron). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated with NMR spectroscopy, High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and compared with its analogues in the literatures. The antibacterial activities of the crude ethyl acetate (EA) extract (CEE) and isolated compounds (compounds 1, 2, 6, 8) were evaluated against plant pathogenic bacteria. Compound 2 and the CEE demonstrated moderate inhibitory activity with MICs of 100 µg/mL against Erwinia sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of four plant growth regulators on Crocus sativus L. (saffron) yield and performance were studied in two consecutive years under field conditions. Saffron corms were immersed in solutions of gibberellic acid (GA3), salicylic acid (SA), paclobutrazol (PBZ), chlormequat chloride (CCC), distilled water (hydroprime), and dry corms as the control. Results showed that among the different treatments, plants primed with GA3 500 μM had the highest flower fresh weight and stigma dry weight. In contrast, primed corms with 1000 μM CCC and 100 μM PBZ had the lowest flower dry weight. Furthermore, the plants primed with SA 1400 had the highest leaf numbers, leaf dry weight, and leaf area index (LAI). Plants treated with GA3 induced narrow but the longest leaves, while those treated with SA showed the widest ones. It was also demonstrated that the application of CCC and PBZ can produce shorter leaves. Furthermore, the greatest numbers of daughter corms were obtained in 1400 μM SA. Both PBZ and CCC were reported to have no impacts on the corm numbers but produced larger and heavier daughter corms. The results revealed that the priming of saffron corms with GA3 and then SA improved saffron growth and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work represents the first successful application of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor for the sensitive and selective determination of the first developed proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (BOR). BOR is used for the treatment of multiple myeloma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and mantle cell lymphoma. It shows its desired effect through the boronate group and can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously. The MIP-based electrochemical sensor design includes the integration of green-synthesized saffron-based copper nanoflowers (CuNFs) from Crocus sativus L. to increase the active surface area and porosity of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) was selected as the functional monomer along with other MIP components. Detailed characterizations of the developed CuNFs/AMPS/MIP-GCE sensor and CuNFs were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The indirect measurement approach using 5.0 mM [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3-/4- solution was used to determine BOR in the linear range of 2.5 × 10 -13  M - 2.5 × 10 -12  M (0.25-2.5 pM). The LOD and LOQ values of the sensor obtained at the fM level (29 fM and 96.7 fM), which has a linear response in the commercial human serum sample in the same concentration range, emphasize its sensitivity (1.89 × 10 13 and 2.14 × 10 13  μA/M for standard solution and serum). The repeatability and reproducibility of the sensor were between 0.87 % and 2.17 %, showing its reliability. The successful performance of the sensor in the presence of metabolites belonging to BOR demonstrates its unique selectivity. The selectivity was demonstrated via relative imprinting factor (IF') values (higher than 3.5) against BOR's metabolites. The stability of the CuNFs/AMPS/MIP-GCE sensor was found to be 5 days., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The saffron flower stigmas are used for the saffron spice production while the remaining saffron floral by-products, that are a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds, remain underutilized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) through response surface methodology to obtain high value-added compounds from saffron tepals as ingredients with potential application in the food, pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic industries. A central composite design was applied to optimize process variables: temperature, time and ethanol solvent concentration. Extracts were characterized in terms of total phenolic and total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity (ORAC and HOSC assays), being the maximum values obtained: 126.20 ± 2.99 mg GAE/g dry matter; 8.05 ± 0.11 mg CE/g dry matter; 6219 ± 246 μmol TEAC/dry matter; 3131 ± 205 μmol TEAC/dry matter, respectively. Results indicated that the optimal extraction conditions were the combination of low temperature (25 °C)—high extraction time (5 min) using ethanol as solvent (100%). MAE revealed to be an efficient technique to isolate bioactive compounds from saffron floral by-products with a low energy footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders that affect people of all genders, ages, and races. Medicinal herbs have gained attention from researchers and have been widely investigated for their antidiabetic potential. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its main constituents, that is, crocin and crocetin, are natural carotenoid compounds, widely known to possess a wide spectrum of properties and induce pleiotropic anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuro-protective effects. An increasing number of experimental, animal and human studies have investigated the effects and mechanism of action of these compounds and their potential therapeutic use in the treatment of diabetes. This narrative review presents the key findings of published clinical studies that examined the effects of saffron and/or its constituents in the context of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, an overview of the proposed underlying mechanisms mediating these effects, the medicinal applications of saffron, and the new findings regarding its effect on diabetes and various cellular and molecular mechanisms of action will be debated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) are traditionally processed to produce saffron, a spice widely used as a food coloring and flavoring agent, which is important in the pharmaceutical and textile dye-producing industries. The labor-intensive by-hand harvesting and the use of only a small amount of each flower cause saffron to be the most expensive spice in the world. Crocus sp. petals are by-products of saffron production and represent an interesting raw material for the preparation of extracts intended for health protection in the perspective of a circular economy. In the present study, ethanolic extract from Crocus sativus L. petals (Crocus sativus L. petal extract, CsPE) was tested on macrophages by in vitro models of inflammation and osteoclastogenesis. The extract was found to be endowed with anti-inflammatory activity, significantly reducing the nitric oxide production and IL-6 release by RAW 264.7 murine cells. Moreover, CsPE demonstrated an anti-osteoclastogenic effect, as revealed by a complete inhibition of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast formation and a decreased expression of key osteoclast-related genes. This study, which focuses on the macrophage as the target cell of the bioactive extract from Crocus sativus L. petals, suggests that the petal by-product of saffron processing can usefully be part of a circular economy network aimed at producing an extract that potentially prevents bone disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron is a unique plant in many aspects, and its cellular processes are regulated at multiple levels. The genetic makeup in the form of eight chromosome triplets (2n = 3x = 24) with a haploid genetic content (genome size) of 3.45 Gbp is decoded into different types of RNA by transcription. The RNA then translates into peptides and functional proteins, sometimes involving post-translational modifications too. The interactions of the genome, transcriptome, proteome and other regulatory molecules ultimately result in the complex set of primary and secondary metabolites of saffron metabolome. These complex interactions manifest in the form of a set of traits 'phenome' peculiar to saffron. The phenome responds to the environmental changes occurring in and around saffron and modify its response in respect of growth, development, disease response, stigma quality, apocarotenoid biosynthesis, and other processes. Understanding these complex relations between different yet interconnected biological activities is quite challenging in saffron where classical genetics has a very limited role owing to its sterility, and the absence of a whole-genome sequence. Omics-based technologies are immensely helpful in overcoming these limitations and developing a better understanding of saffron biology. In addition to creating a comprehensive picture of the molecular mechanisms involved in apocarotenoid synthesis, stigma biogenesis, corm activity, and flower development, omics-technologies will ultimately lead to the engineering of saffron plants with improved phenome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) has its stigma as the main valuable part used. With extremely low production and high prices, stigma is considered a scarce resource. As a result, its petals, considered as by-products, are often discarded, leading to significant waste. We developed a UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS method for qualitative analysis of stigmas and petals and a UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of 9 characteristic active compounds for the first time, and compared their biological activity in vitro. The results indicated that a total of 63 compounds were identified in the petals and stigmas. The content of flavonoids in the petals was significantly superior to that in the stigma, and the content of quercetin in the petals was 50 times higher than that in the stigma. The results of the in vitro evaluation of biological activity indicated that both the petals （•OH: IC 50 =39.70 mg/mL; DPPH: IC 50 =28.37 mg/mL; ABTS: IC 50 =0.9868 mg/mL）and stigma （•OH: IC 50 =34.41 mg/mL; DPPH: IC 50 =38.99 mg/mL; ABTS: IC 50 =3.194 mg/mL）demonstrated comparable antioxidant activities. However, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity in petals （IC 50 =21.17 mg/mL） was weaker than that in stigma（IC 50 =1.488 mg/mL）. This study provides a fast, reliable, and efficient analytical method that can be used for the quality assessment of petals as a natural resource and its related products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted] • UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS and UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS were used to qualitatively and quantitatively compare the material basis differences between C. sativus petals and stigma. • The chemical composition of petals and stigmas is highly overlapping, with up to 80% of shared components, mainly flavonoids. • The petals have good antioxidant activity, and may serve as cost-effective alternatives to stigmas in the development of antioxidant and skin-whitening products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emulsion and foam stability of the crude saponin extract from the saffron corm (SS) were compared with commercially available saponin (CS) and Tween 60 (T60). The purity of the SS sample was calculated relative to CS and showed a value of 84.43%. Most stable emulsions with the smallest oil droplet size were acquired with T60. Also, T60 showed the lowest surface tension, interfacial tension, and the lowest contact angle. However, a reduction of interfacial tension and surface tension up to 77% and 32% was recorded for SS, respectively. Commercially available saponin indicated the best foam stability regarding film drainage, coalescence, and bubble disproportionation due to its highest solution viscosity. The antioxidant activity of samples was evaluated regarding the FRAP assay and the DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The results showed FRAP values of 2.41 and 1.20 mmol L−1 Fe (II)/100 g sample, and DPPH IC 50 values of 2103 and 2326 mg kg−1 for CS and SS, respectively. The investigation showed that SS can form stable emulsions and abundant and persistent foams. Our results provide valuable insights for using saffron corm saponin extract as a new potential natural surfactant for selected applications of the food and pharmaceutical industries. • Crude saponin extracted from saffron corm (SS) showed notable surface activity. • SS formed stable micro-sized oil-in-water emulsions efficiently. • Saponin extracted from saffron corm formed abundant and persistent foams. • SS showed a few antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to valorize the species Crocus sativus from Morocco and to prepare new products with high added value that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, our interest was focused on the phytochemical characterization and the biological and pharmacological properties of the stigmas of this plant. For this purpose, the essential oil of this species, extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by GC-MS, revealed a predominance of phorone (12.90%); (R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol (11.65%); isopropyl palmitate (9.68%); dihydro-β-ionone (8.62%); safranal (6.39%); trans-β-ionone (4.81%); 4-keto-isophorone (4.72%); and 1-eicosanol (4.55%) as the major compounds. The extraction of phenolic compounds was performed by decoction and Soxhlet extraction. The results of the determination of flavonoids, total polyphenols, condensed tannins, and hydrolyzable tannins determined by spectrophotometric methods on aqueous and organic extracts have proved the richness of Crocus sativus in phenolic compounds. Chromatographic analysis by HPLC/UV-ESI-MS of Crocus sativus extracts revealed the presence of crocin, picrocrocin, crocetin, and safranal molecules specific to this species. The study of antioxidant activity by three methods (DPPH, FRAP, and total antioxidant capacity) has proved that C. sativus is a potential source of natural antioxidants. Antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract (E0) was investigated by microdilution on a microplate. The results have revealed the efficacy of the aqueous extract against Acinetobacter baumannii and Shigella sp. with MIC ≤ 600 µg/mL and against Aspergillus niger, Candida kyfer, and Candida parapsilosis with MIC = 2500 µg/mL. Measurements of pro-thrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in citrated plasma obtained from routine healthy blood donors were used to determine the anticoagulant activity of aqueous extract (E0). The anticoagulant activity of the extract (E0) studied showed that this extract can significantly prolong the partial thromboplastin time (p < 0.001) with a 359 µg/mL concentration. The antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract was studied in albino Wistar rats. The aqueous extract (E0) showed strong in vitro inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase compared with acarbose. Thus, it very significantly inhibited postprandial hyperglycemia in albino Wistar rats. According to the demonstrated results, we can affirm the richness of Crocus sativus stigmas in bioactive molecules and its use in traditional medicine.