Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a monomorphic or polymorphic species?

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) which contains exceptional anti-cancer properties is presently the world's most expensive spice. Iran is known as the original habitat of Crocus L. and a significant source of high-quality cultivated saffron production and export. Considering the importance of this species, we used 27 microsatellite markers to assess molecular variability and discriminating capacity of markers regarding their effectiveness in establishing genetic relationships in Iranian Crocus ecotypes. Thirty eight Iranian cultivated saffron ecotypes and 29 wild allies were evaluated in this research. The results from molecular analyses, including a molecular phylogenetic network and RB analysis, revealed two major groups and five subgroups, regardless of their geographical origins. Also, the results showed a clear distinction between C. sativus and other species of Crocus genus, taking into account their close relationship with C. speciosus and C. hausknechtii, which are assumed to be the two closest relatives of Iranian cultivated saffron among species studied. In this paper, we observed for the first time extensive genetic diversity among Iranian C. sativus despite their asexual reproduction. Considering suitable climatic conditions in Iran for cultivating saffron and the country’s leading high-quality production of Crocus sativus worldwide, studies on great genetic variability among Iranian C. sativus ecotypes as well as wild relatives native to Iran will further highlight the value of this crop. In addition, our results provide valuable information for genetic improvement, reduction of strong genetic erosion, and conservation of costly heritable resources of C. sativus in future breeding programs

Comparative study of biological activities of Crocus sativus L. extracts and Lamiaceae plants’ extracts

In the current study, different extracts of Origanum dictamnus L. leaves (dittany), Melissa officinalis L. leaves (lemon balm) and Crocus sativus L. stigmas (saffron) were tested as potential natural antoxidant and antimicrobial agents

Species delimitation and relationship in Crocus L. (Iridaceae)

The genus Crocus L. (Iridaceae) is monophyletic and contains about 100 species throughout the world. Crocus species have horticultural, medicinal and pharmacological importance. Saffron is the dried styles of C. sativus and is one of the world’s most expensive spices by weight. Controversy exits about the taxonomy of the genus and the species relationship. Exploring genetic diversity and inter-specific cross-ability are important tasks for conservation of wild taxa and for breeding of cultivated C. sativus. The present study was performed to study genetic variability and population structure in five Crocus L. species including Crocus almehensis Brickell & Mathew, C. caspius Fischer & Meyer, C. speciosus Marschall von Biberstein, C. haussknechtii Boissier, and C. sativus L. by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. We also used published internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences to study species relationship and compare the results with ISSR data. The results revealed a high degree of genetic variability both within and among the studied species. Neighbor joining (NJ) tree and network analysis revealed that ISSR markers are useful in Crocus species delimitation. Population fragmentation occurred in C. caspius and C. sativus. Both ISSR and sequenced based analyses separated C. sativus from the other studied species. Close genetic affinity of C. sativus and C. pallisii and inter-specific gene flow was supported by both data sets

Evaluation of Crocus sativus L. Quality Using FTIR Spectroscopy

Crocus sativus L. is one the important spices that gives food a distinctive color and taste as well as its medicinal value. Its quality can be estimated using different analysis methods. In This study we used FTIR spectroscopy to Evaluate Crocus sativus L. quality at MEDICO Lab 2023. FTIR Spectroscopy is a fast and reliable analytical method for quality saffron evaluation. The results of FTIR spectra indicated functional groups related to O-H, C=C, C=O, C-O, C(O)–O, C-H, C-H (cis-) and C-H (trans-). Also, our samples lacked the distinctive bands of the active substances of crocetin. Furthermore, the flowers in our samples contained different numbers of stigmas, evidence of the genetic mixing of the bulbs used

Antimicrobial activity, synergism and inhibition of germ tube formation by Crocus sativus-derived compounds against Candida spp

The limited arsenal of synthetic antifungal agents and the emergence of resistant Candida strains have prompted the researchers towards the investigation of naturally occurring compounds or their semisynthetic derivatives in order to propose new innovative hit compounds or new antifungal combinations endowed with reduced toxicity. We explored the anti-Candida effects, for the first time, of two bioactive compounds from Crocus sativus stigmas, namely crocin 1 and safranal, and some semisynthetic derivatives of safranal obtaining promising biological results in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) values, synergism and reduction in the germ tube formation. Safranal and its thiosemicarbazone derivative 5 were shown to display good activity against Candida spp

Chromosome stability of callus cultures of Crocus sativus

Two year old canus cultures, raised from corm explants of Crocus sativus, showed an unusual chromosome number stability when maintained on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l). Such studies may give an insight into the po·ssible origin of somaclonal variants. &nbsp

Chromosome stability of callus cultures of Crocus sativus

Two year old canus cultures, raised from corm explants of Crocus sativus, showed an unusual chromosome number stability when maintained on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l). Such studies may give an insight into the po·ssible origin of somaclonal variants. &nbsp

A study of the role of nitric oxide in the mechanism of action of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron (Crocus sativus) on the electrophysiological properties of the rabbit atrioventricular node

Biologically active substances of plant origin represent an essential branch of modern cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, drugs of plant origin have the advantage of weaker adverse effects and lower prices than synthetic drugs. Pharmacological studies and traditional medical literature point to the anti-ischemic and hypotensive effects of the Crocus sativus L. (Iridacea). The major goals of the present study were: (1) to determine the negative dormotrophic properties of a hydroalcoholic extract of saffron on an isolated AV node and (2) to establish the role of nitric oxide in the mediating effects of saffron on the electrophysiological properties of the AV node. This was an experimental study. Selective stimulation protocols were used to independently quantify AV nodal recovery, facilitation and fatigue. We used isolated perfused rabbit AV node preparation, in three groups (N=32); in each group, we assessed the plant's effect in comparison with the control. In the pilot study, we used different concentrations (A=9 x 10-2 mg/L, B=19 x 10-2 mg/L and C=27 x 10-2 mg/L) to select the optimum concentration (19 x 10-2 mg/L) of the hydroalcoholic extract of saffron. Saffron has a depressant effect on basic and rate-dependent properties of the AV node. We observed an increasing AVCT (38.8 ±4 to 41.7 ±4 msec) and FRP (157.6 ±3 to 163.7 ±4 msec). Also saffron increased the amount of facilitation and the magnitude of fatigue (5.9 ±0.3 to 11.1 ±1 msec). The NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) has a preventative effect on the depressant effect of saffron on AVCT and FRP

Optimization of Anthocyanin Extraction from Saffron Petals with Response Surface Methodology

Optimum extraction conditions of anthocyanins from petals of saffron (Crocus sativus) using acidified ethanol as the solvent were revealed. The investigated factors were solvent to sample ratio (20:1–80:1), ethanol concentration (%), extraction temperature (25–45 °C), and time (8–24 h). Response surface methodology with Box–Behnken design was applied to determine optimum processing conditions leading to maximum extraction efficiency (mg cyanindin-3-glucoside/l). Obtained coefficients of variance showed that the linear effect of temperature was more pronounced for extraction yield than three other variables at 5 % level. Optimum extraction conditions that maximize the extracted anthocyanins were found to be a ratio of solvents to sample 20 ml/g, ethanol concentration of 25.02 %, temperature 25.8 °C, and extraction time 24 h which gave 1609.11 mg/l anthocyanins. A quadratic regression equation describing the effects of independent process variables on anthocyanin extraction from saffron petals can be used for finding optimum conditions to achieve desired extraction yield in similar conditions. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York