Crocin

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Chemical structure of crocin.
Chemical structure of crocin.

Crocin is a natural carotenoid chemical compound that is found in the flowers crocus and gardenia.[1] It is the diester formed from the disaccharide gentiobiose and the dicarboxylic acid crocetin. It has a deep red color and forms crystals with a melting point of 186 °C. When dissolved in water, it forms an orange solution.

Crocin is the chemical ingredient primarily responsible for the color of saffron. It has also been shown to be a potent antioxidant. [2] [3] [4] It has also been shown to have an anticarcinogenic action. [5] [6] [7] Crocin has been shown to have antidepressant properties.[8][9]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Chemical Information. sun.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved on 2008-03-02.
  2. ^ Papandreou MA, Kanakis CD, Polissiou MG, Efthimiopoulos S, Cordopatis P, Margarity M, Lamari FN. (2006). "Inhibitory activity on amyloid-beta aggregation and antioxidant properties of Crocus sativus stigmas extract and its crocin constituents.". J Agric Food Chem. 54 (23): 8762–8. doi:10.1021/jf061932a. PMID 17090119. 
  3. ^ Ochiai T et al. (2006). "Protective effects of carotenoids from saffron on neuronal injury in vitro and in vivo.". Biochim Biophys Acta. 1770 (4): 578–584. PMID 17215084. 
  4. ^ Zheng YQ, Liu JX, Wang JN, Xu L. (2006). "Effects of crocin on reperfusion-induced oxidative/nitrative injury to cerebral microvessels after global cerebral ischemia.". Brain Res. 1138: 86–94. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2006.12.064. PMID 17274961. 
  5. ^ Escribano J, Alonso GL, Coca-Prados M, Fernandez JA. (1996). "Crocin, safranal and picrocrocin from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.". Cancer Letters 100 (1-2): 22–30. doi:10.1016/0304-3835(95)04067-6. PMID 8620447. 
  6. ^ Chryssanthi DG, Lamari FN, Iatrou G, Pylara A, Karamanos NK, Cordopatis P. (2007). "Inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation by style constituents of different Crocus species.". Anticancer Research 27 (1A): 357–62. PMID 17352254. 
  7. ^ Abdullaev Jafarova F, Caballero-Ortega H, Riverón-Negrete L, Pereda-Miranda R, Rivera-Luna R, Manuel Hernández J, Pérez-López I, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ. (2002). "In vitro evaluation of the chemopreventive potential of saffron.". Rev. Invest. Clin. 54 (5): 430–6. PMID 12587418. 
  8. ^ Antidepressant effect of Crocus sativus L. stigma extracts and their constituents, crocin and safranal, in mice.. www.cababstractsplus.org. Retrieved on 2008-03-02.
  9. ^ Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A pilot double-blind randomized trial [ISRCTN45683816]. www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.

[edit] See also