Showing 6 results for Saffron
Saeed Kianbakht , Ali Ghazavi, Zahra Ghafari , Masoumeh Kalantari, Marjan Mehri ,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Saffron (crocus sativus L.), an important spice rich in carotenoids, is used in folk medicine to treat numerous diseases. This study examines the effects of saffron consumption on innate and humoral immunity of healthy male students.
Materials and Methods: 41 healthy volunteered university students in two control and case groups were included in this study and consumed respectively milk and milk containing saffron for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the subjects at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Innate immunity was evaluated by determining the percentage and counts of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, platelets and the total white cells, CRP concentration and C3 and C4 concentrations and humoral immunity was assessed by deterning the percentage of lymphocytes and the concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA.
Results: Three weeks after saffron consumption, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration increased significantly (P<0.05, P=0.01). Total white blood cells and platelets count also reduced significantly (P<0.05). After 6 weeks, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration reduced significantly (P<0.05, P< 0.001) and platelets count increased significantly (P<0.05) as compared with week 3.
Conclusion: This investigation demonstrated that saffron consumption enhances innate and humoral immunity systems and has anti-inflammatory effects. These effects depending on the duration of saffron consumption.
Atefeh Babaei, Javad Arshami, Ali Reza Haghparast, Mohsen Danesh Mesgaran,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (9-2013)
Abstract
Background: Saffron (Crocus Sativus) petals consist of, glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Due to the increasing use of medicinal plants in treatment of diseases and identifying their side effects on various organs, this study is to evaluate the effects of Crocus Sativus petals on biochemical blood parameters in male rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats with the mean body weight of 215±15 g were randomly assigned into five groups of 6 animals each. Control group received normal saline (10 ml/kg) and treatment groups received 75, 150, 220 and 450 mg/kg body weight of saffron petals extract, for 14 days. Body weight measured in days 0, 7, and 14. At the end of experiment, serum levels of liver function marker enzymes such as AST and ALT, total proteins, albumin, creatinine, cholesterol and triglyceride were assessed.
Results: Compared to control group, ethanol extract of saffron petals significantly increased serum albumin and also significantly decreased levels of serum cholesterol and AST (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed on serum total proteins, creatinine, ALT, triglyceride levels and body weight in control and saffron groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Increase in levels of albumin and decrease in liver enzymes may indicate the lack of liver damage. Reduction in cholesterol which is probably due to flavonoid extracts of saffron and no effect on body weight can be beneficial in the use of saffron petals.
Sahar Mehrabi, Maryam Shokrpoor, Mehri Jamilian, Hamidreza Sakhi,
Volume 18, Issue 7 (10-2015)
Abstract
Background: Episiotomy is one of the most common gynecologic surgery that was done in the second stage of labor, in order to facilitate the delivery. Cutting this area is associated with pain and discomfort. Healing causes pain relief and returning to daily activities became faster. Considering that the high rates of episiotomy infection, we decided to examine the effect of topical cream, saffron 20%, on women who had undergone episiotomy.
Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial study was performed on 60 primiparous women in 2013-2014 who underwent vaginal delivery and episiotomy at in Taleghani Hospital of Arak. Intervention group recieved 20% topical cream containing saffron extract three times daily for 2 weeks and the control group received a placebo cream. Wound status and its healing were investigated in the first, seventh and fourteenth postpartum.
Results: There was a significant difference between both groups with healing of episiotomy location in seventh(p=0.54) and fourteenth(p=0.003) days and the continuity process of the wound edges in the first (p=0.015), seventh(p=0.013) and fourteenth(p=0.001) days. there was no statistically significant difference about the opening the wound in the first day(p=0.492), There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in seventh(p=0.001) and fourteenth(p=0.026) days.
Conclusion: This study showed that saffron extract cream 20% can be effective for episiotomy wound healing and wound edges continuity.
Amir Khosravi, Fatemeh Omid Ali,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (5-2018)
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The exhaustive and strenuous exercise may cause damaging effects to the heart. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Saffron stigmas aqueous extracts on serum cardiac troponin T and Creatine kinase MB isoenzyme of male rats following an exhaustive exercise.
Materials and Methods: 64 Wistar male rats were assigned into following four groups (n=16) :1) without exercise +distilled water 2 ml, 2) without exercise+ aqueous saffron extract, 50 mg/kg+ distilled water 2 ml, 3) distilled water 2 ml + 8 weeks exercise, and 4) aqueous saffron extract, 50 mg/kg +distilled water 2 ml + 8 weeks exercise.At the end of experiment, half of the rats were killed immediately before exhaustive exercise; on the other hand remaining rats were killed immediately after performing an acute bout of exhaustive exercise on the treadmill. Serum cardiac troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme levels were measured by ELISA and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. Data were analyzed by one–way ANOVA.
Results: The results show that in all groups, cardiac troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme serum levels were significantly increased following an exhaustive exercise. The lowest increase was observed in group 4 and the highest increase was observed in group 1 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of saffron extract with aerobic training is more effective than aerobic exercise or saffron extract alone in modifying the increase of serum troponin T and CK-MB isoenzyme level following an exhausting exercise.
Farzaneh Rooshenas, Mahboobeh Ashrafi, Saeed Nazifi, Mahmoud Aminlari, Sara Talebanzadeh,
Volume 21, Issue 5 (10-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Medicinal plants possessing antioxidant activity may reduce oxidative stress and improve the functions of various organs that affected by hyperglycemia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of saffron aqueous extract (SAE) administration to diabetic rats by measuring the oxidative stress parameters and important biochemical enzymes in liver tissue.
Materials and Methods: 72 hours after STZ administration (60 mg/kg body weight), the animals with fasting blood glucose over of 250 mg/dl were considered to be diabetic rats and experimental groups were: control (1), control drug (2), diabetes (3) and diabetes drug (4). The treatment was started on the 7th day after STZ injection with i.p injection of SAE (200mg/kg body weight), five doses and weekly to groups 2 and 4. At the end of the experimental period, biochemical factors were measured after bleeding and harvesting of tissues.
Findings: Results indicated the perturbation in the activity of important liver enzymes in diabetic group (3) and SAE adjusted and normalized their levels activity. In addition, SAE with increases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes alleviated diabetes induced oxidative stress and thus reduced MDA levels in group 4 compared to group 3.
Conclusion: SAE is not only useful in the controlling of blood glucose, but also has antioxidant potential to protect the liver tissue of diabetic rats against damage caused by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress.
Fateme Halalkhor, Ameneh Poorrahim, Marefat Siahkouhian,
Volume 26, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and purpose: Anti-cytokine considerations in covid-19 patients can play a significant role in preventing death, therefore, physical activity by reducing risk factors, as well as saffron with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, are considered as anti-cytokine solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation and endurance training on the concentration of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and cysteine in outpatients with coronavirus.
Materials and methods: The statistical population of this research is outpatients with coronavirus, 36 of whom were randomly selected. Cytokines and cysteine were measured using a special kit and ELISA method. The research hypotheses were checked using SPSS software at a significance level of P<0.05 using ANOVA test with repeated measurements with between-group factor.
Results: The results showed that endurance activity and saffron supplementation caused a significant decrease in IL-6 levels and the ratio of interleukin 6 to interleukin 10 (P≥0.05). Also, endurance activity along with saffron supplementation caused a significant increase in serum L-cysteine concentration (P=0.035). The results showed that there is no interaction effect between the measurement stages and the group, as well as intra-group and inter-group differences in interleukin-10 variables (P=0.511).
Conclusion: The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 decrease due to saffron supplementation and endurance training, and the amount of cysteine increases, which helps the recovery of covid-19 patients.
