scholarly journals A Research on Properties, History of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its Use in Foods

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-310
Author(s):  
Çiğdem Muştu
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Paint Industry ◽  
Medicinal Properties ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Saffron is an important spice obtained from the dried red stigmas of "Crocus sativus L." belonging to the Iridaceae family. It is used in traditional medicine from ancient times to modern times thanks to its medicinal properties, in various fields such as cosmetics, paint industry, food sector thanks to the bioactive components it contains. The production of saffron, which is one of the most valuable spices in the world and has a wide area of use, is limited to geographical regions such as Iran, India, Afghanistan, Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco. In addition, although it is among the highest quality saffron producers, its cultivation and production in our country has decreased considerably and it is only made in some villages of Karabük province, Safranbolu county. The limited production of saffron reduces the recognition of this plant, which has a wide range of uses and has high economic value. This valuable plant, which is thought to provide economic gain to our country, should be brought back to the economy. In this review, the saffron plant is discussed in every aspect in order to emphasize its value once more and to make its cultivation sustainable and information about its botanical characteristics, history, regions where it is grown, chemical composition and use in foods was given.

scholarly journals Curious Cases of the Enzymes / Neobiča Istorija Enzima

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuriye Nuray Ulusu
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Inhibitors ◽  
Beating Heart ◽  
Trial And Error ◽  
The Past ◽  
History Of ◽  
Biological Catalysis ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Medicinal Properties ◽  
Hunting And Fishing

SummaryLife as we know it heavily relies on biological catalysis, in fact, in a very nonromantic version of it, life could be considered as a series of chemical reactions, regulated by the guarding principles of thermodynamics. In ancient times, a beating heart was a good sign of vitality, however, to me, it is actually the presence of active enzymes that counts… Though we do not usually pay attention, the history of enzymology is as old as humanity itself, and dates back to the ancient times. This paper is dedicated to these early moments of this remarkable science that touched our lives in the past and will make life a lot more efficient for humanity in the future. There was almost always a delicate, fundamentally essential relationship between mankind and the enzymes. Challenged by a very alien and hostile Nature full of predators, prehistoric men soon discovered the medicinal properties of the plants, through trial and error. In fact, they accidently discovered the enzyme inhibitors and thus, in crude terms, kindled a sparkling area of research. These plant-derivatives that acted as enzyme inhibitors helped prehistoric men in their pursuit of survival and protection from predators; in hunting and fishing… Later in history, while the underlying purposes of survival and increasing the quality of life stayed intact, the ways and means of enzymology experienced a massive transformation, as the ‘trial and error’ methodology of the ancients is now replaced with rational scientific theories.

Protective effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract against genetic damage induced by anti-tumor agents in mice

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Premkumar ◽  
C Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
S K Abraham ◽  
S T Santhiya ◽  
A Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Tail Length ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Cellular Dna ◽  
Tumor Drugs ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

The genotoxic potential of anti-tumor drugs limits their efficacy in the treatment of cancers. Since ancient times, saffron (dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L.) has been used as a spice and medicinal herb. Saffron is a rich source of carotenoids and is known for its anti-cancer and antitumor properties. The present study was designed to ascertain the chemoprotective potential of saffron against the genotoxicity of three well-known anti-tumor drugs-cisplatin (CIS), cyclophosphamide (CPH) and mitomycin C (MMC)-using comet assay. Three doses of saffron (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg b.w.) were orally administered to mice for five consecutive days prior to the administration of anti-tumor drugs under investigation. Pre-treatment with saffron significantly inhibited anti-tumor drugs induced cellular DNA damage (strand breaks) as revealed by decreased comet tail length, tail moment and percent DNA in the tail. These findings, together with our previous results, suggest a potential role for saffron as an anti-genotoxic, anti-oxidant and chemopreventive agent and could be used as an adjuvant in chemotherapeutic applications.

scholarly journals Diversity and phylogeny of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) accessions based on iPBS markers

Genetika ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Bayat ◽  
Reza Amirnia ◽  
Hakan Özkan ◽  
Aysun Gedik ◽  
Duygu Ates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Gene Diversity ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Information Index ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
High Efficient ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

This study sought to measure genetic diversity and phylogenetic structure among 196 individuals of saffron from 20 geographically separate accessions from Iran, Spain and Turkey using retrotransposon derived iPBS markers. Twenty-eight primers amplified a total of 179 polymorphic alleles with an average of 6.4 bands per primer. The average of parameters shannon's information index, genetic distance and gene diversity was 0.483, 0.286 and 0.841 respectively. Polymorphic information index ranged from 0.407 to 0.953 with an average of 0.824. Primers 2298, 2229 and 2393 with 0.953, 0.943 and 0.943 PIC respectively, identified as the most informative primers in this study. The results of phylogenetic trees showed that twenty saffron accessions were placed into four major clusters that matched with their geographical locations completely. These results are supported by principal coordinate analysis. Overall, we can confirm that iPBS markers as low cost and high efficient molecular markers are a powerful DNA fingerprinting for assessing genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis among saffron accessions originating from different geographical regions.

scholarly journals History of Ukraine-China Bilateral Trade

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45
Author(s):  
Lev Vlasenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
China Trade ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Trade Partner ◽  
Historical Tradition ◽  
Current Stage

Annotation. Introduction. During the years of Ukrainian independence, China has risen from a relatively insignificant country in Asia to the biggest trade partner of Ukraine surpassing even Russia and other post-Soviet republics both in amount and the importance of bilateral trade. To fully understand the current dynamics of bilateral trade between Ukraine and China, it is necessary to explore the history of these relations from ancient times to the current stage to improve the strategy for cooperation between Ukraine and China. Purpose. To study the history of bilateral trade relations of Ukraine and China from first diplomatic contacts to contemporary relations, to identify patterns and trends that affect the dynamics of trade, to outline mistakes and shortcomings of Ukrainian diplomacy, and to provide recommendations for improvement. Result. The revealed pattern of diplomatic and trade relations between Ukraine and China may be considered as an indicator s that China has been viewing Ukraine as a political entity even before the declaration of independence in 1991. International relations between Ukraine and China have a deep and strong historical tradition with a wide range of forms and methods of cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, and culture. Conclusions. The revealed dynamics of bilateral trade prove that the negative trends in trade between Ukraine and China are not always related to the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy or global market conditions and may have resulted from the mistakes and failures of Ukrainian diplomacy. To prevent these mistakes in the future, it is necessary to have qualified specialists trained to work with China and conduct effective negotiations at the highest level and monitor their correct coverage in the official documents and press. Keywords: international trade; bilateral trade; Ukraine-China trade; Soviet-China trade.

scholarly journals History of the Concept of Similarity in Natural Sciences

Conatus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Virginia John Grigoriadou ◽  
Frank A. Coutelieris ◽  
Kostas Theologou
Keyword(s):  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Scientific Methodology ◽  
Historical Evolution ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Experimental Tool ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Historical Periods ◽  
Scientific Fields

The concept of similarity has been discussed by many scientists and philosophers since ancient times. Thales of Miletus, Euclid, Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Edgar Buckingham, and the modern philosopher of science Susan G. Sterrett are examples of intellectuals who perceived and examined the concept of similarity, while many scientists incorporated it in their scientific methodology. The wide range and variety of definitions of similarity could result in confusion regarding the meaning of the concept, the role the similarity mechanism plays in scientific methodology, and the identification of scientific fields to which similarity could be applied. The main aim of this paper was to enhance the understanding of the notion of similarity. To this end, we examined the historical evolution of the concept of similarity and the utilization of the mechanism of similarity in various eras of human intellectual activity, ranging from antiquity to the present day. In this context, the research hypothesis we investigated was the existence of specific and distinct stages of evolution within the long history of the concept of similarity in parallel with the evolution of scientific thought. A core question that motivated our work was when and under which conditions did the transition from the “technocratic” utilization of similarity (i.e., the use of similarity as a solution for practical problems) to its theoretical documentation and its conscious and systematic use as a significant experimental tool occurred. Another important question examined was whether there was a certain era that favored the development of the concept of similarity more than other historical periods. In order to address this hypothesis and respond to these questions, we sought to trace the evolution of conceptualizing and using similarity in different spatial and temporal contexts, formed by the corresponding historical, institutional, religious, and social conditions as well as the characteristics of the scientific methodology established during the period the similarity concept evolved.

Therapeutic Application of Saffron for Improvement of Women’s Health: A Review of Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayna Bagheri ◽  
Ladan Kashani
Keyword(s):  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Postmenopausal Symptoms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Disorders ◽  
Female Specific ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Saffron or crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) has been widely used as a food additive as well as a therapeutic agent in traditional medicine for centuries, especially in Asian countries. This spice consists of three bioactive components, including picrocrocin, safranal, and crocin, which exert alleviating effects in a wide range of disorders (e.g.cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurodegenerative, psychiatric and female-specific disorders). Anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative characteristics were reported for this herbal agent. Additionally, several studies have addressed the potential role of saffron in modulating the serotonergic system, which could be helpful in treatment of some diseases specific to women such as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Postpartum Depression (PPD), postmenopausal symptoms, and sexual dysfunction. Nowadays, use of herbal medicine instead of chemical prescriptions has become very popular due to their generally lesser side effects and cultural acceptability. In the present report, we provided an overview of the current literature regarding the potential effects of saffron on women’s health. Taken together, saffron seems a spice with strong beneficial impacts on various aspects that a woman might challenge with. Further trials could pave the way for the introduction of saffron as a routine safe treatment of aforementioned conditions in women population.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Potential of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Ischemia Stroke

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Shakiba Azami ◽  
Zahra Shahriari ◽  
Samira Asgharzade ◽  
Tahereh Farkhondeh ◽  
Mahmood Sadeghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Oxidative Stress Markers ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a main cause of disability worldwide. The majority (approximately 80%) of strokes are ischemic. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been considered for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Pharmacological effects of saffron are attributed to the presence of crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal. In the present review, we summarized the reported neuroprotective effects of saffron and its active constituents against cerebral ischemia stroke. Saffron and its components exert its beneficial effects as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic agent though inhibition of biochemical, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers. Taken together, this review indicates that saffron and its ingredients could be a potent candidate in the process of new drug production for the treatment of ischemia stroke.

Effect of consumption of a Mediterranean herb Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) on health aspects: Evidence and Prospects

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ena Gupta ◽  
Priyanka Singh ◽  
Neha Mishra ◽  
Suman Devi
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Baked Goods ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Yellow Orange ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

: Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) is a Mediterranean herb of the Iridaceae family. The dried stigmas of C. Sativa plant are processed to produce well-known spice saffron rich in secondary metabolites (safranal, crocetin, terpenes, crocins, picrocrocin, kaempferol and quercetin) with a wide range of important biological activities in curing many human diseases. Around the world, saffron is considered to be the most expensive spice, with an estimated annual production of around 300 tons per year. Therapeutic efficacies of saffron are proved through pharmacological studies and it is considered as a promising candidate with potentials for designing new drugs. In different food supplements, saffron is mainly used due to its antioxidant properties, intense flavour, aroma and luminous yellow-orange hue. Worldwide it is used in everything from confectioneries, liquors, cheeses, curries, soups, baked goods and meat dishes. This review is aimed to summarize the ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemistry and acceptable daily intake with a wide spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic applications of saffron.

scholarly journals Variation in Headspace Volatiles of Saffron Determined by GC×GC-ToF-MS

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2096761
Author(s):  
Busisiwe N. Zwane ◽  
Guy P. Kamatou ◽  
Alvaro M. Viljoen ◽  
Georges Betti ◽  
Mathias Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Variation ◽  
Headspace Analysis ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Headspace Volatiles ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Medicinal Properties ◽  
Culinary Uses ◽  
Different Origins ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Saffron, obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L (Iridaceae), is the most expensive spice traded worldwide. In addition to its culinary uses, various medicinal properties have been confirmed for saffron, which has recently captured the interest of the phytotherapy industry. The quality of saffron is determined by the presence of 3 compounds, namely, crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal, with the latter being responsible for the distinct aroma characteristic of saffron. To determine the volatiles and assess possible geographical variation, headspace analysis using 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional gas chromatography (GC) on 26 samples collected from 9 countries was undertaken. The major constituents identified include safranal, 4-ketoisophorone, acetic acid, 2(5H)-furanone, and 1,4-cyclohexanedione-2,2,6-trimethyl. Quantitative rather than a qualitative variation was noted in the samples from different origins. The levels of safranal ranged from 22.1% to 62.4%. This study represents the first report on the headspace volatiles of saffron using GC×GC-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry and clearly demonstrates the superior chromatographic potential of 2-dimensional GC compared with conventional 1-dimensional GC.

Ecstatic Landscapes: The Manifestation of Psychedelic Art

2016 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley Krippner
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Human Experience ◽  
Humanistic Psychology ◽  
Human Potential ◽  
First Person ◽  
Related Substances ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ancient Times

"Psychedelic art" can be defined as artwork manifested in the context of the ingestion of LSD-type drugs and related substances. There is a long history of such work dating back to ancient times (picturing mushrooms and other plants with psychedelic effects) as well as more recent anecdotal first-person accounts and various collections of psychological data resulting from experiments and interviews. One such collection includes the studies by Krippner of over 200 artists, writers, and musicians who referred to their artistic productions as “psychedelic” because they had some connection with their occasional or frequent use of these substances. Although there were no commonalities characterizing all of their paintings, films, poems, novels, songs, or other works, several frequent themes were noted following content analysis of the interview reports. The results of this group of studies, as well as those of more structured explorations, attests to the importance of this topic for humanistic psychology with its emphasis upon creativity, human potential, and exploring the wide range of human experience.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document