Background:
Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which are collectively
called reactive oxygen nitrogen species, are inevitable by-products of cellular metabolic redox reactions,
such as oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, phagocytosis, reactions of
biotransformation of exogenous and endogenous substrata in endoplasmic reticulum, eicosanoid synthesis,
and redox reactions in the presence of metal with variable valence. Among medicinal plants there is
a growing interest in Crocus sativus L. It is a perennial, stemless herb, belonging to Iridaceae family,
cultivated in various countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Israel, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, India, China,
Egypt and Mexico.
Objective:
The present study aims to address the anti-toxicant role of Crocus sativus L. in the cases of
toxin and drug toxification.
Materials and Methods:
An electronic literature search was conducted by the two authors from 1993 to
August 2017. Original articles and systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), as well as case
reports were selected. Titles and abstracts of papers were screened by a third reviewer to determine
whether they met the eligibility criteria, and full texts of the selected articles were retrieved.
Results:
The authors focused on literature concerning the role of Crocus Sativus L. as an anti-toxicant
agent. Literature review showed that Saffron is a potent anti-toxicant agent with a plethora of applications
ranging from anti-oxidant properties, to chemotherapy protective effects.
Conclusion:
Literature findings represented in current review herald promising results for using Crocus
Sativus L. and/or its active constituents as anti-toxicant, chemotherapy-induced protection and toxin
protection.
Cultivation, distribution, taxonomy, chemical composition and medical importance of Crocus sativus
