Insights from the analysis of draft genome sequence of Crocus sativus L.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the low yielding plant of medicinal and economic importance. Therefore, it is of interest to report the draft genome sequence of C. sativus. The draft genome of C. sativus has been assembled using Illumina sequencing and is 3.01 Gb long covering 84.24% of genome. C. sativus genome annotation identified 53,546 functional genes (including 5726 transcription factors), 862,275 repeats and 964,231 SSR markers. The genes involved in the apocarotenoids biosynthesis pathway (crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal) were found in the draft genome analysis.

O uso de plantas medicinais é efetivo para o controle de sintomas depressivos em adultos?: Uma revisão integrativa

Este estudo buscou contribuir para a identificação e síntese das evidências de ensaios controlados randomizados sobre os efeitos do uso das plantas medicinais no controle dos sintomas depressivos em adultos. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, com busca realizada em bases de dados, utilizando os seguintes termos: (medicinal plants OR herbal plants), (depressive disorder OR depression), and (adults OR adult population). Foram incluídos: ensaios controlados randomizados; publicados em artigos originais disponíveis na íntegra; em língua inglesa ou portuguesa, e realizados com adultos de 18 a 59 anos. Foram excluídos os artigos duplicados e que não atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. A busca resultou em um total de 354 estudos, sendo 9 estudos incluídos para análise. A Crocus sativus (açafrão) foi a planta medicinal mais utilizada, com administração por meio de cápsulas em um período entre 4 e 12 semanas. O uso das plantas medicinais mostrou efeitos positivos para redução da intensidade dos sintomas de depressão, melhora do desempenho da memória e do humor, e melhora na qualidade do sono. No entanto, este resultado deve ser interpretado com moderação, em razão do número de estudos e da qualidade metodológica.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Flower Water Extract Disrupts the Cecal Microbiome, Brush Border Membrane Functionality, and Morphology In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is known as the most expensive spice. C. sativus dried red stigmas, called threads, are used for culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal purposes. The rest of the flower is often discarded, but is now being used in teas, as coloring agents, and fodder. Previous studies have attributed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-depressant, and anticancer properties to C. sativus floral bio-residues. The aim of this study is to assess C. sativus flower water extract (CFWE) for its effects on hemoglobin, brush boarder membrane (BBM) functionality, morphology, intestinal gene expression, and cecal microbiome in vivo (Gallus gallus), a clinically validated model. For this, Gallus gallus eggs were divided into six treatment groups (non-injected, 18 Ω H2O, 1% CFWE, 2% CFWE, 5% CFWE, and 10% CFWE) with n~10 for each group. On day 17 of incubation, 1 mL of the extracts/control were administered in the amnion of the eggs. The amniotic fluid along with the administered extracts are orally consumed by the developing embryo over the course of the next few days. On day 21, the hatchlings were euthanized, the blood, duodenum, and cecum were harvested for assessment. The results showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in hemoglobin concentration, villus surface area, goblet cell number, and diameter. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase in Paneth cell number and Mucin 2 (MUC2) gene expression proportional to the increase in CFWE concentration. Additionally, the cecum microbiome analysis revealed C. sativus flower water extract altered the bacterial populations. There was a significant dose-dependent reduction in Lactobacillus and Clostridium sp., suggesting an antibacterial effect of the extract on the gut in the given model. These results suggest that the dietary consumption of C. sativus flower may have negative effects on BBM functionality, morphology, mineral absorption, microbial populations, and iron status.

FORMULASI FACEMIST EKSTRAK ETANOL BUAH BENGKUANG (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb) DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN PEWARNA ALAMI SAFFRON (Crocus sativus L.)

Bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb) adalah umbi yang memiliki kandungan zat yang bermanfaat meliputi antioksidan, vitamin C, air, antibakteri dan flavonoid. Flavonoid merupakan tabir surya alami untuk mencegah kerusakan kulit akibat radikal bebas. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) merupakan rempah - rempah yang termahal di dunia dengan rasa khas paitnya. Saffron digunakan sebagai pewarna alami yang berasal dari crocetin, glucosyl esters, dan the crocins. Saffron mengandung crocin yaitu salah satu bahan pewarna karotenoid yang membuat warna kuning keemasan. Facemist termasuk ke dalam kosmetik penyegar kulit (freshner). Fungsi utama penyegar adalah menyegarkan kulit wajah, mengangkat sisa minyak dari kulit yang dimungkinkan masih ada, serta desinfektan ringan dan sekaligus dapat membantu menutup pori-pori kembali. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk memformulasikan ekstrak etanol buah bengkuang dengan menggunakan pewarna alami saffron dan dilakukan uji evaluasi meliputi uji organoleptik, uji pH, uji bobot jenis, uji daya sebar semprot, uji kondisi semprotan dan uji waktu kering sehingga dapat diketahui konsentrasi sediaan facemist yang baik. Jenis penelitian yang dilakukan yaitu eksperimental dilaboratorium dengan membuat 5 formulasi yang terdiri dari F0 sebagai basis facemist, F1 dengan konsentrasi ekstrak etanol buah bengkuang sebesar 1 g, F2 3 g, F3 5 g, dan F4 7 g. Dari hasil uji evaluasi sediaan F4 merupakan formula yang paling baik.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers of Depression and Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Key Genes and Therapeutic Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Depression

Background. To explore the potential target of depression and the mechanism of related traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of depression. Method. Differential gene expression in depression patients and controls was analyzed in the GEO database. Key genes for depression were obtained by searching the disease databases. The COREMINE Medical database was used to search for Chinese medicines corresponding to the key genes in the treatment of depression, and the network pharmacological analysis was performed on these Chinese medicines. Then, protein-protein interaction analysis was conducted. Prediction of gene phenotypes was based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment scores. Results. The total number of differentially expressed genes in the GEO database was 147. Combined with the GEO dataset and disease database, a total of 3533 depression-related genes were analyzed. After screening in COREMINE Medical, it was found that the top 4 traditional Chinese medicines with the highest frequency for depression were Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Crocus sativus L., Bupleurum chinense DC., and Cannabis sativa L. The compound target network consisted of 24 compounds and 138 corresponding targets, and the key targets involved PRKACA, NCOA2, PPARA, and so on. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the most commonly used Chinese medicine could regulate multiple aspects of depression through these targets, related to metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and neuroimmunity. Prediction and analysis of protein-protein interactions resulted in the selection of nine hub genes (ESR1, HSP90AA1, JUN, MAPK1, MAPK14, MAPK8, RB1, RELA, and TP53). In addition, a total of four ingredients (petunidin, isorhamnetin, quercetin, and luteolin) from this Chinese medicine could act on these hub genes. Conclusions. Our research revealed the complicated antidepressant mechanism of the most commonly used Chinese medicines and also provided a rational strategy for revealing the complex composition and function of Chinese herbal formulas.