• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2024

Crocin is a major carotenoid of the Gardenia jasminoides fruit and Crocus sativus stigma (saffron), which are used in various cuisines as flavoring and coloring agents, as well as in phytomedicine for the treatment of several disorders, including headache, fever, edema, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, respiratory disease, menstruation disorders, insomnia, and hypertension. Crocin (C₄₄H₆₄O₂₄) is a chemical diester composed of the dicarboxylic acid crocetin and disaccharide gentiobiose. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted about the biological and pharmacological function and toxicity of crocin. Crocin has been revealed to have no genotoxicity and pathological manifestation. Crocin acts as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotector, and hepatoprotector. Here, an inclusive review of crocin is introduced based on previously explored studies referred to in the literature. Different studies have confirmed the protective role of crocin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. It is surmised that crocin suppresses inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic processes through multiple mechanisms. Crocin is considered a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with inflammatory conditions, although more research investigating its mechanisms and results acquired in clinical trials are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the effect of crocin in methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced diabetic male mice. Methods: Seventy 1-month-old male NMRI mice weighing 20-25 g were divided into seven groups (n=10): sham, MGO (600 mg/kg/day), MGO+crocin (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day), MGO+metformin (150 mg/kg/day), and crocin (60 mg/kg/day). MGO was administered orally for 30 days. Starting on day 14, after confirming hyperglycemia, metformin and crocin were administered orally. On day 31, plasma and tissue samples were prepared for experimental assessments. Results: Blood glucose and insulin levels in the MGO group were higher than those in the sham group (p<0.001), and decreased in response to metformin (p<0.001) and crocin treatment (not at all doses). Testis width and volume decreased in the MGO mice and improved in the crocin-treated mice (p<0.05), but not in the metformin group. Superoxide dismutase levels decreased in diabetic mice (p<0.05) and malondialdehyde levels increased (p<0.001). Crocin and metformin improved malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. Testosterone (p<0.001) and sperm count (p<0.05) decreased in the diabetic mice, and treatment with metformin and crocin recovered these variables. Luteinizing hormone levels increased in diabetic mice (p<0.001) and crocin treatment (but not metformin) attenuated this increase. Seminiferous diameter and height decreased in the diabetic mice and increased in the treatment groups. Vacuoles and ruptures were seen in diabetic testicular tissue, and crocin improved testicular morphology (p<0.01). Conclusion: MGO increased oxidative stress, reduced sex hormones, and induced histological problems in male reproductive organs. Crocin and metformin improved the reproductive damage caused by MGO-induced diabetes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1499-1506
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• 2016

Background: Crocus sativus and its major constituent crocin are well established to have anti-cancer properties in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). However the role of C. sativus extract (CSE) and crocin on caspase signaling mediated MCF-7 cell death at molecular level is remains unclear. In this study, we tried to unravel role of CSE and crocin on caspase mediated MCF-7 cells death and their in vivo preclinical toxicity profiling and immune stimulatory effect. Materials and Methods: CSE extract was fractionated by HPLC and crocin was isolated and characterized by NMR, IR, and MS. MCF-7 cells were treated with both CSE and crocin and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was assessed after 24 and 36 hours. Furthermore, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 expression was determined by Western blotting after 24 hours of treatment. DNA fragmentation analysis was performed for genotoxicity of CSE and crocin in MCF-7 cells. The in vivo toxicity profile of CSE (300 mg/kg of b.wt) was investigated in normal Swiss albino mice. In addition, peritoneal macrophages were collected from crocin (1, 1.5 and 2 mg/kg body weight) treated mice and analyzed for ex vivo yeast phagocytosis. Results: Immunoblot analysis revealed that there was time dependent decline in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 with simultaneous upregulation of Bax in CSE and crocin treated MCF-7 cells. Further CSE and crocin treatment downregulated caspase 8 and 9 and cleaved the caspase 3 after 24 hours. Both CSE and crocin elicited considerable DNA damage in MCF-7 cells at each concentration tested. In vivo toxicity profile by histological studies revealed no observable histopathologic differences in the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs and heart in CSE treated and untreated groups. Crocin treatment elicited significant dose and time dependent ex vivo yeast phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages. Conclusions: Our study delineated involvement of pro-apoptotic and caspase mediated MCF-7 cell death by CSE and crocin at the molecular level accompanied with extensive DNA damage. Further we found that normal swiss albino mice can tolerate the maximum dose of CSE. Crocin enhanced ex vivo macrophage yeast phagocytic ability.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2011

From the total methanolic extract of Gardenia jasminoides (Rubiaceae), various antioxidative characteristics were identified in terms of nitrite scavenging ability, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation inhibition, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and elongation effect of lipid peroxidation using Rancimat. After successive partitioning with n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and water, potent nitrite scavenging abilities were shown in the n-butanol fraction and water fraction, and $IC_{50}$ values were 183 ppm and 194 ppm, respectively. As for ABTS radical cation inhibition, the chloroform fraction was most potent and its $IC_{50}$ was 159 ppm. SOD-like activity was slightly low in all of the fractions. The elongation effect of lipid peroxidation also increased dose-dependently and the antioxidative index (AI) of the total methanolic extract was 2.93 in 1000 ppm, which was more effective than 1.66 of butylated hydroxy anisol in the same concentration. The compounds I and II were isolated through silica gel column chromatography of the active fractions, and identified as geniposide and crocin, respectively, by $^1H-NMR$ spectral data. The $IC_{50}$ values for the nitrite scavenging abilities of geniposide and crocin were 940 ppm and 77 ppm, respectively. In ABTS radical cation inhibition, the $IC_{50}$ values of geniposide and crocin were 684 ppm and 549 ppm, respectively. And the $EC_{50}$ value for SOD-like activity of crocin was 259 ppm, which was much smaller than 453 ppm by the positive control, chlorogenic acid. The $EC_{50}$ value of geniposide could not be identified.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2018

Objectives: Ethanol withdrawal following its chronic use is a serious outcome and challenging to treatment. The chronic use of ethanol induces a progressive neuroplasticity in different reigns of brain. In this study we evaluated the effects of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and its active compound, crocin, on the withdrawal behavior induced after repeated administration of ethanol, in two regimens of prophylactic (administration of drugs concomitant with the induction of dependence) and treatment (administration of drugs during the period of ethanol withdrawal) in mice which received ethanol. Methods: Ethanol dependence was induced by oral administration of 10% v/v ethanol (2 g/kg) for 7 days. The aqueous extracts of saffron (40, 80 and 160) and crocin (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) were administered to mice in two regimens of prophylactic (along with ethanol) and treatment (during withdrawal period). Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Six hours after discontinuation of the ethanol, seizure was evaluated by the sub-convulsive dose of pentyleneltetrazole (PTZ) (30 mg/kg). The open field test and Rota rod test were used for evaluation of locomotor activity and motor incoordination, respectively. Results: Both extracts and crocin increased the number of crossed lined in the open field test. PTZ kindling seizure was inhibited in animals received extract (80 and 160 mg/kg) in both regimens. Motor incoordination was only improved following administration of crocin. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of saffron and crocin can be considered as safe agents and reliable alternative to diazepam in management of ethanol withdrawal syndrome.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1974

On the basis of pigment production and growth rate on L-J medium containing crocin, differentiation of opportunist mycobacteria belonging to photochromogens, scotochromogens, nonchromogens and rapid grower has been investigated. Among photochromgens, positive pigmentation of M. kansasii was differentiated from negative strain of M. marinum, Scotochromogen M. aquae was positive whereas M. scrofulaceum was negative. Rapid grower M. fortuitum was positive at 3 days test whereas M. smegmatis was negative. Subdivision of opportunist mycobacteria into four groups on the basis of growth rate and pigment production on L J medium containing gardenia extraction appeared to be a valuable adjunct to the Runyon's classification for the rapid presumptive identification of opportunist mycobacteria of different clinical significance.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2016

Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. In the present study, geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin were separated from gardenia chromatographically. Then, mice were orally administrated with geniposide (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocins (400 mg/kg b.w.), crocin-1 (400 mg/kg b.w.) and crocetin (140 mg/kg b.w.) once daily for 7 days with $CCl_4$. Hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by biochemical parameters: Administration of geniposide, crocins, crocin-1and crocetin significantly lowered serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in $CCl_4$-treated mice. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activities were also increased by geniposide, crocins, crocin-1 and crocetin. Histopathological examination of livers showed that these components reduced deformability, irregular arrangement and rupture of hepatocyte in $CCl_4$-treated mice. These biochemical results and liver histopathological assessment demonstrated that geniposide, crocetin derivatives and crocetin show comparative beneficial effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage via induction of antioxidant defense. Therefore, contents of geniposide and crocetin derivatives should be both considered for hepatoprotective efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 1981

Crocin was extracted from Gardenia fructus in order to manufacture a natural food dye. In the extraction and purification process methanol and ethanol were used as the most Suitable solvent selected in preliminary test and 9.28%g/100g of Cretin product in 99.89% of purity was acquired. The lethal dose of Cretin administered in mouse by intra peridoneal was 5.36g/kg which is much lower toxic than any other. The toxic dose which caused diarrhoea in rat was 2.55g/kg and maximum no effect level was found to be 272mg/kg. From the $1%{\sim}2.5%$ content of Crocin in rat diet reduction of body weight appeared and GTP and GOT (Transaminase) value in creased significantly. Crocin showed a good properties of tolerating acid, alkali, sunlight, reductant, oxidant, and salt compared with tar dyes. The range from 100 ppm to 500ppm bring out bright $yellow{\sim}orange$ color, the most effective color, with a good solubility in water-slightly in oil. The acceptable daily intake of crocin was calculated as 2.72mg/kg based on maximum no effect dose (2% additive dose).

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Objective: D-galactose (D-gal) is well-known agent to induce aging process. In the present study, we selected crocin, the main constituent of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), against D-gal- induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: Pretreated cells with crocin ($25-500{\mu}M$, 24 h) were exposed to D-gal (25-400 mM, 48 h). The MTT assay was used for determination cell viability. Dichlorofluorescin diacetate assay (DCF-DA) and senescence associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase staining assay (SA-${\beta}$-gal) were used to evaluate the generation of reactive oxygen species and beta-galactosidase as an aging marker, respectively. Also advanced glycation end products (AGEs) expression which is known as the main mechanism of age-related diseases was measured by western blot analysis. Results: The findings of our study showed that treatment of cells with D-gal (25-400 mM) for 48h decreased cell viability concentration dependency. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels which are known as main factors in age-related diseases increased from $100{\pm}8%$ in control group to $132{\pm}22%$ in D-gal (200 mM) treated cells for 48h. The cytotoxic effects of D-gal decreased with 24h crocin pretreatment of cells. The cell viability at concentrations of $100{\mu}M$, $200{\mu}M$ and $500{\mu}M$ increased and ROS production decreased at concentrations of 200 and $500{\mu}M$ to $111.5{\pm}6%$ and $108{\pm}5%$, respectively. Also lysosomal biomarker of aging and carboxymethyl lysine (CML) expression as an AGE protein, significantly increased in D-gal 200 mM group after 48h incubation compare to control group. Pre-treatment of SHSY-5Y cells with crocin ($500{\mu}M$) before adding D-gal significantly reduced aging marker and CML formation. Conclusion: Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with crocin before adding of D-gal restored aging effects of D-gal concentration dependency. These findings indicate that crocin has potent anti- aging effects through inhibition of AGEs and ROS production.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 1986

An attempt was made to verify the antibacterial activities of the soluble extracts of Gardenia jasminoides(SEGJ) against mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT); M. kansasii, M. scrofulaceum, M. simiae, M. szulgai, M.xenopi, M. avium-intracellulare complex, M. gordonae and M. flarescens. In addition, the effect of the SEGJ on the yellow pigmentation and violet pigmentation (crocin reaction) of the colonies of the MOTT grown on7H10-crocin agar plates was observed. The SEGJ gave a growth stimulatory activity against most species of mycobacteria except for M. szulgai at low concentration of the SEGJ in terms of crocin pigment OD=0.02 or less, but exerted an inhibitory activity at high concentration of OD=0.04 or more. The growth-inhibitory activity of the SEGJ was dose-dependent but the yellow pigmentation of the scotochromogens was not affected by the dose of the SEGJ that was growth-inhibitory. Crocin positive reaction was observed only with M. kansasii.