The Beneficial Effects of Saffron Extract on Potential Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Diseases

Figure 4

Pharmacological mechanism of crocin in the evolution of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).ROS: reactive oxygen species; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa B; Ox-LDL: oxidized low-density lipoprotein; LOX-1: lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1; O₂^●−: superoxide; SOD: superoxide dismutase activity; MDA: malondialdehyde; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; NO: nitric oxide; MCP-1: monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; GSH: glutathione; IKK-β: inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase beta; Akt: protein kinase B; ERK 1/2: extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2; GSK3-β: glycogen synthase kinase-3beta; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; HIF-1α: hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha; TLR-2: toll-like receptor 2; Rho: Ras homolog; ROCK: Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase; TLR-4: toll-like receptor 4. (a) During the evolution of atherosclerotic plaques, the main role of crocin is to reduce the oxidation of LDL and inhibit the various oxidative stress responses that ox-LDL triggers. (b) Saffron in MI regulates superoxide reaction by increasing SOD, GSH, and catalase, thereby preventing excessive myocardial injury. Saffron may regulate oxidative stress through the NF-κ B signaling. (c) In the progress of myocardial IR, saffron predominantly reduces the damage caused by oxidative stress by inhibiting the activation of the ROS system. (d) Saffron resists oxidative stress by regulating ROS-related enzymes and through HIF-α, to improve drug-induced cardiotoxicity.