Saffron the “Red Gold” and Its CNS Activity: A Challenge for Future Applications in Nutraceuticals

Table 1

A summary of the most recent studies considering specific effects of crocus on CNS diseases.

Disease and organism	Compound or extract and main findings	Reference
Male Wistar rats, microinjection of beta-amyloid, in vivo model of AD	Safranal 0.025, 0.1, and 0.2 ml/kg prevented learning and memory decline via neuronal protection	[19]
5XFAD mice used as an AD model	C. sativus extract (50 mg/kg/day, added to mice diet). Positive effect of C. sativus against AD by reducing Aβ pathological manifestations	[20]
Rat with microinjection of beta-amyloid, in vivo Aβ models of the AD	Crocin improved amyloid beta-induced long-term potentiation and memory deficits in the hippocampal CA1 neurons in freely moving rats	[21]
Mice with induced PD	Saffron was administered before inducing Parkinson. RNA microarray analysis of the brain transcriptome revealed differential expression of 424 genes. Bioinformatics analysis identified the enrichment of molecular pathways and expression changes in candidate genes with known neuroprotective actions	[22]
Rat model of depression and anxiety	Crocin and crocetin induced changes in serotonin and corticosterone serum concentrations and decreased hippocampal NR2B expression. Furthermore, crocetin inhibited the NMDA receptor. Behavioral tests for depression (sucrose preference test and forced swimming test) and anxiety (open field test)	[23]

AD, Alzheimer’s disease; PD, Parkinson’s disease.