Mining of disease-resistance genes in Crocus sativus based on transcriptome sequencing

Introduction: Crocus sativus L. has an important medicinal and economic value in traditional perennial Chinese medicine. However, due to its unique growth characteristics, during cultivation it is highly susceptible to disease. The absence of effective resistance genes restricts us to breed new resistant varieties of C. sativus. Methods: In present study, comprehensive transcriptome sequencing was introduced to explore the disease resistance of the candidate gene in healthy and corm rot-infected C. sativus. Results and discussion: Totally, 43.72 Gb of clean data was obtained from the assembly to generate 65,337 unigenes. By comparing the gene expression levels, 7,575 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily screened. A majority of the DEGs were completely in charge of defense and metabolism, and 152 of them were annotated as pathogen recognition genes (PRGs) based on the PGRdb dataset. The expression of some transcription factors including NAC, MYB, and WRKY members, changed significantly based on the dataset of transcriptome sequencing. Therefore, this study provides us some valuable information for exploring candidate genes involved in the disease resistance in C. sativus.

Saffron and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Sleep quality is defined as an individual's consent to sleep experience. Poor sleep quality has important adverse health outcomes. There are drugs to treat sleep disorders but consumption of these drugs is accompanied by adverse effects whereas herbal treatments have fewer side effects. Saffron is spice obtained from Crocus sativus flower. Several articles have been done on its effects on the quality of sleep and its safety. This review for the first time critically evaluates effect of saffron on sleep quality improvement.

Method

The search technique aims to get all related published data-based up to 2022 articles. PubMed, Central, Google Scholar, and Scopus were examined. Only full reports were evaluated (abstracts were excluded). The first screening was done by title and abstract. Then full text of articles was read and irrelevant articles were removed. Duplicate articles were also removed by Endnote. By using Cochrane risk of bias tool assessment, a quality score based on probability of bias was given. Methodological characteristics were also evaluated using the criteria of Stevinson and Ernst.

Result

In the systematic review, 5 randomized clinical trials with 379 participants from 3 countries were identified. In placebo-comparison trials, saffron contains a large treatment.

Conclusion

It seems that saffron has a beneficial influence on duration and quality of sleep. Saffron, crocin, and safranal induce hypnotic effects by increasing the duration of sleep. Research conducted so far provides initial support and safety for use of saffron to improve sleep quality.

Saffron, as an adjunct therapy, contributes to relieve depression symptoms: An umbrella meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Saffron is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used to treat various ailments such as depressive mood. However, the findings of several meta-analyses regarding anti-depressive properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) are controversial. The current umbrella meta-analysis was carried out to determine the magnitude and direction of saffron administration on depression.

METHODS

Relevant studies were searched in international databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Library up to June 2021. Meta-analysis studies investigating the effects of saffron on depression were considered to include in the study. Random-effects model was used to perform the meta-analysis. Additional analyses including subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out.

RESULTS

Overall, 7 meta-analyses were included in the study. The results demonstrated that the consumption of saffron resulted in a significant reduction in BDI scores (ES: -3.87; 95% CI: -5.27, -2.46). However, saffron did not change the HAMD scores (ES: -2.10; 95% CI: -5.05, 0.86, p = 0.164) and mixed scores (HAM-D/BDI/DASS) (ES: 0.02; 95% CI: -0.39, 0.43,p = 0.941).

CONCLUSION

Present umbrella meta-analysis demonstrated that saffron intake might contribute to alleviation of depression disorder, however, it cannot be considered as a single therapeutic approach to treat depression.

Alzheimer's disease: exploring nature's 'medicinal chest' for new therapeutic agents

Natural products have served humanity as a valuable source for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents. In addition, these phytochemicals can function as lead compounds for the development of synthetic analogs aimed at treating human diseases. In our aging society, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, which is characterized by a significant and progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions. As society demographics change, the predominance of AD and other age-related dementias is increasing, with concurrent financial and societal costs.AD represents one of the most remarkable scientific challenges for drug discovery as the search for effective disease-modifying agents has been unsuccessful. Medicinal plants have been used for their "anti-aging" properties, and cognitive enhancing properties. In the past decades, natural products have been studied for their anti-AD properties, and their potential for developing therapeutic agents against several molecular targets has been evaluated. This insight evaluates the prospects of medicinal plants for providing disease-modifying, as well as disease-preventing, agents for AD.

Neural Network-Based Clinical Prediction System for Identifying the Clinical Effects of Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Supplement Therapy on Allergic Asthma: Model Evaluation Study

Background

Asthma is commonly associated with chronic airway inflammation and is the underlying cause of over a million deaths each year. Crocus sativus L, commonly known as saffron, when used in the form of traditional medicines, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects which may be beneficial to individuals with asthma.

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop a clinical prediction system using an artificial neural network to detect the effects of C sativus L supplements on patients with allergic asthma.

Methods

A genetic algorithm–modified neural network predictor system was developed to detect the level of effectiveness of C sativus L using features extracted from the clinical, immunologic, hematologic, and demographic information of patients with asthma. The study included data from men (n=40) and women (n=40) individuals with mild or moderate allergic asthma from 18 to 65 years of age. The aim of the model was to estimate and predict the level of effect of C sativus L supplements on each asthma risk factor and to predict the level of alleviation in patients with asthma. A genetic algorithm was used to extract input features for the clinical prediction system to improve its predictive performance. Moreover, an optimization model was developed for the artificial neural network component that classifies the patients with asthma using C sativus L supplement therapy.

Results

The best overall performance of the clinical prediction system was an accuracy greater than 99% for training and testing data. The genetic algorithm–modified neural network predicted the level of effect with high accuracy for anti–heat shock protein (anti-HSP), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), the ratio of FEV₁/FVC, and forced expiratory flow (FEF_25%-75%) for testing data (anti-HSP: 96.5%; hs-CRP: 98.9%; FEV₁: 98.1%; FVC: 97.5%; FEV₁/FVC ratio: 97%; and FEF_25%-75%: 96.7%, respectively).

Conclusions

The clinical prediction system developed in this study was effective in predicting the effect of C sativus L supplements on patients with allergic asthma. This clinical prediction system may help clinicians to identify early on which clinical factors in asthma will improve over the course of treatment and, in doing so, help clinicians to develop effective treatment plans for patients with asthma.

flowers

INTRODUCTION

The increasing interest on Crocus sativus L. over the last decades is caused by its potential employment as a source of biologically active molecules, endowed with antioxidant and nutraceutical properties. These molecules are present mainly in stigmas and tepals, these last generally considered as byproducts.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise bioactive compounds in stigmas, stamens, and tepals of Crocus sativus L. for quality, cross-contamination of tissues or fraudulent addition, joining spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.

METHODOLOGY

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies were initially employed, being very rapid in response; volatiles were more appropriately investigated by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), while finally nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) were adopted for a more thorough characterisation of secondary metabolites. NMR was also used to investigate the anthocyanins content in tepals upon acid extraction.

RESULTS

The results obtained highlighted the drying method as the dominant factor affecting the content of volatile constituents and contributing to the quality of saffron, while only slight differences were observed in the most abundant metabolites of stigmas, as well as in the anthocyanin content of tepals. In particular, for the first time, delphinidin and petunidin were detected by NMR in this latter tissue.

CONCLUSION

The integrated analytical methodology here proposed, allowed to achieve a deeper level of compositional and structural details of secondary metabolites in Crocus sativus L. flowers.

Saffron Induced Relaxation in Isolated Rat Aorta via Endothelium Dependent and Independent Mechanisms

Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is a widely used food additive for its color and taste. The hypotensive effects of saffron have been shown in previous studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of vasodilatory effects induced by saffron on isolated rat aorta. To study the vasodilatory effects of saffron aqueous extract (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/mL), isolated rat thoracic aorta rings were contracted by 10^-6 M phenylephrine (PE) or KCl 80 mM. The vasodilatory effect of saffron was also evaluated both on intact and denuded endothelium aortic rings. To study the role of nitric oxide and prostacyclin in relaxation induced by saffron, aortic rings were incubated by L-NAME (10^-6 M) and indomethacin (10^-5 M) respectively for 20 min. Saffron induced relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with PE in a concentration dependent manner. The obtained relaxation induced by the highest saffron concentration in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with KCl was less than that observed in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted with PE. The relaxant activity of saffron was abolished by incubation of aortic rings with L-NAME but not in the presence of indomethacin. Also, the vasodilatory activity of saffron was partially abolished in endothelium denuded aortic rings. Saffron induced relaxation in isolated rat aortic rings might be due particularly to its effect on endothelium via nitric oxide synthase pathway and partly due to the effect on vascular smooth muscle cells via L type voltage dependent calcium channels.

Therapeutic effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in digestive disorders: a review

Saffron, the dried red-orange stigmas of Crocus sativus L, has been known as a flavoring agent, food coloring and traditional herbal medicine. Pharmacological effects of saffron are mainly attributed to crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. These components especially crocin, have significant effects including antidepressant and anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-cancer and other therapeutic effects on different parts of our body namely cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, genital-urinary and central nervous system. According to the reports and findings, saffron plays a key role to cure different digestive system disorders via chemopreventive, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, antioxidant effects and radical scavenging, genoprotective property, prevention of lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory processes. The outcome of the above mentioned mechanisms shows potential therapeutic properties of saffron against liver cancer, hepatotoxicity, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, stomach cancer, peptic ulcer, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, diabetes and pancreas cancer and ileum contractions. According to global statistics, the susceptibility to intestinal diseases is considered as a significant matter and can be important in health planning in any community. Several strategies for treatment and prevention of the digestive system diseases have provided that the use of herbal remedies seems effective and useful. Considering the available findings, the present study aims to introduce saffron as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent against gastrointestinal tract disorders. However, further clinical studies seem necessary in various aspects of saffron effects in different parts of body to verify these findings.

Somatic Embryogenesis in Crocus sativus L

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most important species in Crocus genus because of its effective usage. It is not only a very expensive spice, but it has also a big ornamental plant potential. Crocus species are propagated by corm and seed, and male sterility is the most important problem of this species. Hence, somatic embryogenesis can be regarded as a strategic tool for the multiplication of saffron plants. In this chapter, the production of saffron corms via somatic embryogenesis is described.

Razi's Al-Hawi and saffron (Crocus sativus): a review

Traditional knowledge can be used as a source for development of new medicines. In the present study, we compare the data on saffron in Razi's Al-Hawi book with modern scientific studies. A computerized search of published articles was performed using MEDLINE, Scopus as well as native references. The search terms used were saffron, Crocus sativus, crocetin, crocin, safranal, Razi, and Al-Hawi. A variety of properties of saffron including diuretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, appetite suppressant, hypnotic, antidepressant, and bronchodilator effects were mentioned in Al-Hawi. Modern studies also confirmed most of these characteristics. This review indicates that the pharmacological data on saffron and its constituents are similar to those found in Razi's Al-Hawi monograph and it can be concluded that ethnobotanical information and ancient sources have precious data about medicinal plants that lead to finding new compounds for treatment of several diseases.

as a potential source of the antioxidants crocin and kaempferol

Saffron from the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of Italy, is highly prized and has been awarded a formal recognition by the European Union with EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Despite this, the saffron regions are abandoned by the younger generations because the traditional cultivation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is labour intensive and yields only one crop of valuable saffron stamens per year. Petals of the saffron Crocus have had additional uses in traditional medicine and may add value to the crops for local farmers. This is especially important because the plant only flowers between October and November, and farmers will need to make the best use of the flowers harvested in this period. Recently, the petals of C. sativus L., which are considered a waste material in the production of saffron spice, were identified as a potential source of natural antioxidants. The antioxidants crocin and kaempferol were purified by flash column chromatography, and identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC), HPLC-DAD, infrared (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H &(13)C NMR) spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was determined with the ABTS and DPPH tests. The antioxidant activities are mainly attributed to carotenoid and flavonoid compounds, notably glycosides of crocin and kaempferol. We found in dried petals 0.6% (w/w) and 12.6 (w/w) of crocin and kaempferol, respectively. Petals of C. sativus L. have commercial potential as a source for kaempferol and crocetin glycosides, natural compounds with antioxidant activity that are considered to be the active ingredients in saffron-based herbal medicine.

In-chain neutral hydrocarbon loss from crocin apocarotenoid ester glycosides and the crocetin aglycon (Crocus sativus L.) by ESI-MS(n) (n=2, 3)

The stigmas of Crocus sativus L. have been used as spice and colorant agent (i.e. saffron) for more than 4000 years. For an updated structural investigation of the aglycon present in the glycosylated crocetin apocarotenoids (i.e. crocins), seven representative derivatives ranging from one up to five glucosyl-residues with a maximum number of three monosaccharides per glycosylation site (glucose, gentiobiose, gentiotriose and neapolitanose) were isolated and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The compounds selected for further mass spectrometric investigation include glucosyl-, bis-glucosyl-, gentiobiosyl-, gentiobiosyl-glucosyl-, bis-gentiobiosyl-, gentiobiosyl-gentiotriosyl- and gentiobiosyl-neapolitanosyl-crocetin. Electrospray ionization in combination with low-energy collision-induced dissociation/tandem mass spectrometry of sodiated crocin precursor ions utilizing either a 3D-ion trap (MS(n) , n = 2, 3) or a QqTOF instrument, with the latter providing accurate mass determination with an accuracy of ±1-3 ppm or better at a resolution of 10,000 (full width at half maximum), was used. Major fragmentation pathways included loss of either one or two carbohydrate substituents leading to the sodiated aglycon without interglycosidic bond cleavage during in MS(2) -experiments. All sodiated precursor ions and major product ions were accompanied by a loss of 92 Da, which was elucidated as C7 H8 -loss from the aglycon by skeletal rearrangement via an eight-membered transition state as previously described for intact C40-carotenoids.

corms and its antioxidant activities study

It is well known that phenolic compounds are constituents of many plants. In this study, the total phenolics content in Crocus sativus L. corms in dormancy and waking stages were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after silylation by N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluroacetamide (MSTFA) + %1 trimethyl iodosilane (TMIS). Numerous compounds were detected and 11 compounds were identified. The highest phenolics content in waking corms was observed for gentisic acid (5.693 ± 0.057 μg/g) and the lowest for gallic acid (0.416 ± 0.006 μg/g); also these two phenolic compounds are the highest (0.929 ± 0.015 μg/g) and lowest (0.017 ± 0.001 μg/g) phenolics in dormant corms, respectively. The results from quantization and GC-MS analysis showed a high concentration of phenolic compounds in waking corms than the dormant stage. Furthermore, the radical scavenging activities of saffron corms were studied by 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test and EC (50)values were determined about 2055 ppm and 8274 ppm for waking and dormant corms, respectively.