Crocin, safranal and picrocrocin from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.

Abstract

Extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been reported to inhibit cell growth of human tumor cells. In order to study the cytotoxic effect of the characteristic compounds of saffron spice, we have isolated crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. Doses inducing 50% cell growth inhibition (LD50) on HeLa cells were 2.3 mg/ml for an ethanolic extract of saffron dry stigmas, 3 mM for crocin, 0.8 mM for safranal and 3 mM for picrocrocin. Crocetin did not show cytotoxic effect. Cells treated with crocin exhibited wide cytoplasmic vacuole-like areas, reduced cytoplasm, cell shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei, suggesting apoptosis induction. Considering its water-solubility and high inhibitory growth effect, crocin is the more promising saffron compound to be assayed as a cancer therapeutic agent.

• Authors: J Escribano, G L Alonso, M Coca-Prados, J A Fernandez
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 100 Issue 1-2 Pg. 23-30 (Feb 27 1996) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 8620447 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Cyclohexenes
• Glucosides
• Plant Extracts
• Terpenes
• Carotenoids
• safranal
• crocin
• picrocrocin

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Carotenoids (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Condiments (analysis)
• Cyclohexenes
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Glucosides (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• Plant Extracts (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Plants, Edible (chemistry)
• Terpenes (isolation & purification, pharmacology)