Safranal

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.

Background: Saffron is traditionally suggested for wound healing in Persian medicine. It is
investigated for wound healing effect in multiple studies with promising results. It is not examined that which ingredient of saffron contributes more to this effect. This study was aimed to
evaluate and compare the wound healing potential of saffron and its active constituents, crocin,
and safranal, in rats. Materials and Methods: Forty female adult rats with induced excision
wounds were randomly divided into four groups to receive topical formulation of saffron, crocin, safranal, and placebo for seven days. The Wound area and histopathologic stage of wound
healing were evaluated as outcome measures. Results: The wound area was significantly lower
in treatment groups (saffron, crocin, and safranal) compared to the control group on day 7 of
the intervention. Compared to the control group, the wound in all treated groups showed a
decreased inflammatory response and more progression to the proliferation phase. The saffron
group showed more advanced healing phase with complete epithelialization of the wound on
day 7 of study when partial and no epithelialization was observed in safranal and crocin groups.
Conclusion: The study showed the wound healing properties of both safranal and crocin with
the slight superiority of safranal. However, saffron seems to be more potent in wound healing
effect compared to safranal and crocin as its main active constituents. [

Objective The main objective of this study is to determine how important pharmacological agents of saffron (safranal,
crocin and crocetin) and its volatile components are affected at different storage times.
Materials and Methods: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different storage periods on
the quality of basic components of saffron including safranal, crocin and crocetin using GC-MS FID analysis, which
are important pharmacological agents for determining the quality of saffron. In the second study, the same amounts
of samples were analyzed by GC-MS/MS analysis with the same extraction method, and the volatile components of
saffron stigma were determined and the evaluation of these components was evaluated in terms of fatty acid
characteristics, bioactivity and quality properties.
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Results: When the storage time of the stigma of the saffron plant increases, the amounts of safranal, crocin and
Crocetin used as pharmacological agents decrease. During the storage period, safranal, 2,3-Dihydro-3,5-Dihydroxy6-Methyl-4H-Pyran-4-One, Isopropylidenecyclopropyl Methyl Ketone, Ketoisophorone, Glycerol Palmitate and NPropylacetamide amounts decrease with increasing the storage period.. the amounts of other volatile components
varied with increased storage periods. When the amounts of essential fatty acid components are evaluated, the highest
amount of fatty acids with 36.74% was found in the storage period of 44 months and the lowest amount was observed
with 19.36% in 8 months storage. When the amounts of bioactive volatile components are evaluated, the highest
amount of components with 49.17% was obtained for 8 months of storage and the lowest amount of components with
46.29% was observed for 44 months storage. , the highest amounts of total fatty acid and bioactive components with
83.03% was obtained in 44 months storage period.
Conclusion: The amount of pharmacological agents (safranal, crocin, Crocetin) decreases depending on the storage
time. However, fatty acid and bioactive component ratios compensate for this.

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, safranın önemli farmakolojik ajanları (safranal, krosin ve krosetin) ve uçucu bileşenlerinin farklı depolama sürelerinde nasıl etkilendiğini belirlemektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışmanın birinci aşamasında GC-MS/FID analizi ile safranın kalite kriterlerini belirlemede kullanılan önemli farmakolojik ajanlar olan safranal, crocin ve crocetin gibi temel bileşenlerin farklı depolama sürelerinin kalite üzerine etkileri araştırılmıştır. İkinci aşamada ise GC-MS/MS analizi ile stigma üzerindeki uçucu bileşenler belirlenmiş ve bu uçucu bileşenlerin karşılıklı değerlendirilmesi yapılarak, yağ asidi ve biyoaktivite özelliğine sahip uçucu bileşenlere etkileri değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Safran bitkisinin stigmasının depolanma süresi uzadıkça farmakolojik ajan olarak kullanılan safranal, crocin ve Crocetin miktarları azalmaktadır. Farklı depolama sürelerinde safranal, 2,3-Dihydro-3,5-Dihydroxy-6-Methyl-4h-Pyran-4-One, Isopropylidenecyclopropyl methyl ketone, Ketoisophorone, Glycerol Palmitate ve N-Propylacetamide oranlarının depolama süreleri uzadıkça azaldıkları görülmüştür. Bunlar haricindeki diğer uçucu bileşenlerin çoğunun miktarlarında dalgalanmalar gözükmektedir. Uçucu yağ asidi bileşenlerinin oranları değerlendirildiğinde en yüksek %36.74 oranında 44 ay depolama süresinde ve en düşük %19.36 ile 8 ay depolama süresinde gerçekleşmiştir. Biyoaktif özelliğe sahip uçucu bileşen oranları değerlendirildiğinde en yüksek %49.17 ile 8 ay depolama süresinde ve en düşük ise %46.29 ile 44 ay depolama süresinde biyoaktif bileşen oranının gerçekleştiği görülmüştür. Hem yağ asidi hem de biyoaktif bileşenlere bakıldığında en yüksek oran 44 ay depolama süresinde %83.03 ile gerçekleşmiştir. Sonuç: Depolanma süresine bağlı olarak farmakolojik ajanlarının (safranal, crocin, Crocetin) miktarları azalmaktadır. Ancak yağ asidi ve biyoaktif bileşen oranları bunu telafi etmektedir.