一种蒲黄伪品的鉴别

目的研究一种新出现的蒲黄伪品的鉴别方法。方法通过观察药材性状、显微特征和薄层色谱,对蒲黄真伪品进行比较鉴别。结果真品与伪品在药材性状、显微特征、理化现象和薄层色谱四方面均有显著差异。结论4种方法相互结合,能有效地鉴别蒲黄真伪。     

山茱萸及其混伪品大枣果皮的鉴别

本对山茱萸及其混伪品大枣果皮进行了药材性状、显微特征、薄层色谱、紫外光谱的比较鉴别。     

青葙子及其伪品苦地丁种子的鉴别

目的：为青葙子及其伪品苦地丁种子的鉴别提供参考依据。方法：应用性状、显微粉末特征比较，理化鉴别，薄层色谱及紫外光谱法对其进行了鉴别。结果：二者外观性状差异较小，显微特征、理化鉴别、薄层色谱及紫外光谱则区别较大。结论：可用显微粉末、薄层色谱、理化和紫外光谱特征鉴别二者。     

西红花及其伪品的生药鉴别

目的 鉴别西红花真伪,保证临床用药质量.方法 根据西红花正品及不同种类伪品的外观性状特征,鉴别西红花的真伪.结果 目前市场上西红花药材中常出现混伪品,如红花、莲须、玉蜀黍、染色伪制品等.结论正品西红花与混伪品性状差异明显,为确保西红花质量和临床疗效,建议购买西红花药材时应前往正规、大型、可信度高的老字号企业进行购买.     

檀香及其混用品的鉴别研究

针对近年发现的一种外观性状与正品檀香相似的混用品,以正品檀香为对照,从药材性状、横断面显微特征,薄层色谱多方面对该种混用品进行鉴别研究,明确混用品与正品的明显差异,指出药材的鉴别不能只从药材性状着手,应综合其显微特征和薄层色谱等方法比较分析才能准确鉴别.     

防风与一种伪品防风的鉴别

目的 对防风及一种伪品防风的鉴别提供了实验依据.方法 采用性状鉴别、显微鉴别、薄层色谱及紫外光谱等方法.结果 正品与伪品具不同的鉴别特征.结论 能准确地对防风与伪品防风进行鉴别.     

本刊加入CMCC，CMCI的声明

针对近年发现的一种外观性状与正品檀香相似的混用品，以正品檀香为对照，从药材性状、横断面显微特征，薄层色谱多方面对该种混用品进行鉴别研究，明确混用品与正品的明显差异，指出药材的鉴别不能只从药材性状着手，应综合其显微特征和薄层色谱等方法比较分析才能准确鉴别。     

秦皮与合欢皮的鉴别

近年来在药材抽检中发现把合欢皮当秦皮用于临床较多,为此,我所对秦皮及其伪品合欢皮进行了药材性状、横切面显微特征、荧光、薄层色谱、紫外吸收光谱比较鉴别,现报道如下。     

吴茱萸与伪品臭辣树的生药鉴别

目的 :对吴茱萸及其伪品臭辣树进行生药鉴别。方法 :采用原植物形态、性状、显微、薄层色谱等方法进行系统的鉴别比较。结果 :吴茱萸与臭辣树虽是同科同属植物 ,外观近似 ,但原植物形态 ,药材性状及组织粉末特征均存在明显差异 ,色谱的斑点位置、颜色都不相同。结论 :臭辣树为吴茱萸的一种混淆品 ,不可供临床药用。本法为两种药材的鉴别提供了资料     

粉葛与其伪品食用葛的鉴别

目的建立粉葛与其伪品食用葛的鉴别方法。方法用传统鉴定方法及现代鉴定技术,对粉葛与食用葛进行鉴别。结果粉葛与食用葛在药材性状、显微特征、薄层色谱、紫外光谱及高效液相色谱方面均有一定的差异。结论该研究结果可以作为粉葛药材品质的鉴定依据。     

Chemical constituents and bioactivities of the liposoluble fraction from different medicinal parts of Crocus sativus

Context: Crocus sativus Linn. (Iridaceae), commonly known as saffron, becomes more and more popular due to its versatile biological and medicinal properties. At present, studies mainly focus on the traditional medicinal part, the saffron stigma, with less attention to the other parts of saffron, such as the perianth, the stamen, and the corm, which are high yield compared to the stigma and also possess various pharmacological effects.

Objective: To determine the chemical compositions, antifungal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities of the ether fractions from the stamen, perianth, and stigma of saffron.

Materials and methods: The chemical constituents of the ether fractions from different parts of saffron were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Several pathogenic fungi isolates and tumor cell lines were employed to evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activities of these three ether fractions. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to determine the free radical-scavenging activity.

Results: The ether fractions composition of the three C. sativus parts are different from each other, but lauric acid, hexadecanoic acid, 4-hydroxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, and stigmasterol were the common constituents shared by all the three fractions. The stamen ether fraction displayed the strongest antifungal and cytotoxic activities, whereas both of the saffron stamen and perianth ether fractions exhibited significant antioxidant activities.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the saffron stamen and perianth possess significant antifungal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities as well as the stigma, though not to the same extent, prompting us to expand the medicinal resource and make best use of this valuable plant.     

Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment: Bioactive Effects on Cognitive Impairment

Crocus sativus L. (saffron) appears to own neuroprotective effects on cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this work is to review evidence and mechanisms of saffron-induced therapeutic outcomes and measureable cognitive benefits in AD.The literature was reviewed, and preclinical and clinical studies were identified. In vitro and in vivo preclinical studies were selected according to these criteria: 1) development of saffron pharmacological profile on biological or biophysical endpoints; 2) evaluation of saffron efficacy using animal screens as an AD model, and 3) duration of the studies of at least 3 months. As for the clinical studies, the selection criteria included: 1) patients aged ≥ 60, 2) AD diagnosis according to National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer''s Association (NIAAA) criteria, and 3) appropriate procedures to assess cognitive, functional, and clinical status. A total of 1477 studies published until November 2020 were identified during an initial phase, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for this review.Seventeen in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies have described the efficacy of saffron on cognitive impairment in animal models of AD, highlighting that crocin appears to be able to regulate glutamate levels, reduce oxidative stress, and modulate Aβ and tau protein aggregation. Only four clinical studies have indicated that the effects of saffron on cognitive impairment were not different from those produced by donepezil and memantine and that it had a better safety profile.Saffron and its compounds should be further investigated in order to consider them a safer alternative in AD treatment.     

Investigation of the neuroprotective action of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in aluminum-exposed adult mice through behavioral and neurobiochemical assessment

In the present study, the possible reversal effects of saffron against established aluminum (Al)-toxicity in adult mice, were investigated. Control, Al-treated (50 mg AlCl₃/kg/day diluted in the drinking water for 5 weeks) and Al + saffron (Al-treatment as previously plus 60 mg saffron extract/kg/day intraperitoneally for the last 6 days), groups of male Balb-c mice were used. We assessed learning/memory, the activity of acetylcholinesterase [AChE, salt-(SS)/detergent-soluble(DS) isoforms], butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, SS/DS isoforms), monoamine oxidase (MAO-A, MAO-B), the levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), in whole brain and cerebellum. Brain Al was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, while, for the first time, crocetin, the main active metabolite of saffron, was determined in brain after intraperitoneal saffron administration by HPLC. Al intake caused memory impairment, significant decrease of AChE and BuChE activity, activation of brain MAO isoforms but inhibition of cerebellar MAO-B, significant elevation of brain MDA and significant reduction of GSH content. Although saffron extract co-administration had no effect on cognitive performance of mice, it reversed significantly the Al-induced changes in MAO activity and the levels of MDA and GSH. AChE activity was further significantly decreased in cerebral tissues of Al + saffron group. The biochemical changes support the neuroprotective potential of saffron under toxicity.     

基于网络药理学和反向分子对接的西红花抗肿瘤作用机制研究

目的 运用网络药理学和反向分子对接技术探讨西红花抗肿瘤的作用机制。方法 通过检索文献和从中药系统药理学数据库（TCMSP）获取西红花的主要化学成分,利用PharmMapper服务器预测西红花活性成分的潜在靶点,通过UniProt数据库将西红花潜在靶点转换为对应的靶标基因,与GeneCards、OMIM和TTD数据库获得的肿瘤相关靶点进行映射分析,得到西红花抗肿瘤的潜在作用靶点。采用Cytoscape软件构建西红花“活性成分-靶点-疾病”相互作用网络,通过String数据库进行蛋白-蛋白相互作用分析,并利用Metascape平台进行GO功能和KEGG通路富集分析。使用AutoDock、Pymol软件对活性成分与关键靶点进行分子对接验证。结果 共筛选出西红花中槲皮素、山柰酚、异鼠李素、苦番红花素和西红花苷Ⅰ等9个活性成分,可能作用于AKT1、CCND1、MMP9、EGFR、TP53等37个关键靶点,涉及P53信号通路及TNF信号通路等。分子对接显示可通过氢键、疏水作用等产生稳定结合。结论 初步探讨了西红花抗肿瘤的主要活性成分、关键靶点及通路,提示可通过诱导细胞凋亡等方式发挥抗肿瘤作用,为后...     

A 22-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled trial of Crocus sativus in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease

Rationale

There is increasing evidence to suggest the possible efficacy of Crocus sativus (saffron) in the management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Objective

The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the efficacy of C. sativus in the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate AD.

Methods

Fifty-four Persian-speaking adults 55 years of age or older who were living in the community were eligible to participate in a 22-week, double-blind study of parallel groups of patients with AD. The main efficacy measures were the change in the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—cognitive subscale and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale—Sums of Boxes scores compared with baseline. Adverse events (AEs) were systematically recorded. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a capsule saffron 30 mg/day (15 mg twice per day) or donepezil 10 mg/day (5 mg twice per day).

Results

Saffron at this dose was found to be effective similar to donepezil in the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD after 22 weeks. The frequency of AEs was similar between saffron extract and donepezil groups with the exception of vomiting, which occurred significantly more frequently in the donepezil group.

Conclusion

This phase II study provides preliminary evidence of a possible therapeutic effect of saffron extract in the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This trial is registered with the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (IRCT138711051556N1).     

Quality and functionality of saffron: quality control, species assortment and affinity of extract and isolated saffron compounds to NMDA and sigma1 (sigma-1) receptors

Extracts from saffron, the dried stigmata from Crocus sativus L., are being used more and more in preclinical and clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and depression. Because of the known quality problems of saffron, HPLC methods on RP(18) 2.5 microm and monolithic RP(18) material have been developed and validated for quality control including the quantification of crocins 1 to 5, crocetin, picrocrocin and the degradation products, the CIS-crocins. Additionally, a GC-MS method has allowed detection and quantification of the volatile compounds from the pentane extract of saffron. Both systems together allowed the comprehensive characterisation of saffron herbal material and extracts for clinical/preclinical trials. For effective preparation of the respective reference standards, a fast centrifugal partition chromatography (FCPC) method was developed allowing the quick isolation of crocins 1, 2, 5 and picrocrocin in good yields. Using these chromatographic methods and the reference standards, a representative survey of saffron from the global market indicated a high variability of quality, especially concerning the amounts of volatile compounds in saffron samples. A specification for high-quality saffron of >20% crocins, >6% picrocrocin and not less than 0.3% of volatiles, calculated as sum of safranal, isophorone and ketoisophorone, was developed. Because no detailed pharmacological studies are available to explain the clinical effects of saffron for the treatment of cancer and depression, receptor binding studies were performed. Saffron extracts and crocetin had a clear binding capacity at the PCP binding side of the NMDA receptor and at the sigma(1) receptor, while the crocins and picrocrocin were not effective. These data could give biochemical support for the above-mentioned pharmacological effects of saffron.     

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

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 anti-tumor 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.     

Bacillus subtilis FZB24 affects flower quantity and quality of saffron (Crocus sativus)

The effect of Bacillus subtilis FZB24 on saffron ( Crocus sativus L.) was studied using saffron corms from Spain and the powdered form of B. SUBTILIS FZB24(R). Corms were soaked in water or in B. subtilis FZB24 spore solution for 15 min before sowing. Some corms were further soil drenched with the spore solution 6, 10 or 14 weeks after sowing. Growth and saffron stigma chemical composition were measured. Compared to untreated controls, application of B. subtilis FZB24 significantly increased leaf length, flowers per corm, weight of the first flower stigma, total stigma biomass; microbe addition also significantly decreased the time required for corms to sprout and the number of shoot sprouts. Compared to the controls, picrocrocin, crocetin and safranal compounds were significantly increased when the plants were soil drenched with the spore solution 14 weeks after sowing; in contrast crocin was highest in untreated controls. Results of this study suggest that application of B. subtilis FZB24 may provide some benefit to saffron growers by speeding corm growth (earlier shoot emergence) and increasing stigma biomass yield by 12 %. While some treatment conditions also increased saffron chemical composition, these were generally not the same treatments that simultaneously improved growth yields and thus, more study is required.     

Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Rationale

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has shown aphrodisiac effects in some animal and human studies.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and tolerability of saffron in fluoxetine-related sexual dysfunction.

Methods

This was a 4-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty-six married male patients with major depressive disorder whose depressive symptoms had been stabilized on fluoxetine and had subjective complaints of sexual impairment entered the study. The patients were randomly assigned to saffron (15?mg twice per day) or placebo for 4?weeks. International Index of Erectile Function scale was used to assess sexual function at baseline and weeks 2 and 4.

Results

Thirty patients finished the study. Baseline characteristics as well as baseline and final depressive symptoms scores were similar between the two groups. Effect of time?×?treatment interaction on the total score was significant [Greenhouse–Geisser-corrected, F (1.444, 40.434)?=?6.154, P?=?0.009]. By week 4, saffron resulted in significantly greater improvement in erectile function (P?P?=?0.001), and total scores (P?P?=?0.095), overall satisfaction (P?=?0.334), and sexual desire (P?=?0.517) domains scores. Nine patients (60%) in the saffron group and one patient (7%) in the placebo group achieved normal erectile function (score?>?25 on erectile function domain) at the end of the study (P value of Fisher’s exact test?=?0.005). Frequency of side effects were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Saffron is a tolerable and efficacious treatment for fluoxetine-related erectile dysfunction.     

中国西红花的资源开发研究概况

西红花是浙江省"新浙八味"品种之一。中国自1960年引种成功后在上海、浙江、江苏等地大规模繁育栽培西红花，目前浙江西红花产业和技术在全国处于领先地位。西红花是具有极高经济价值的小宗中药品种，增加种植区域及改良种植模式是西红花产业化的关键，本文通过对西红花的品种选育研究、产量研究、品种评价、栽培技术、综合开发利用等方面进行初步分析与探讨，梳理西红花发展中存在的问题，以期为国内西红花的开发利用提供一定的科学参考依据，促进产业可持续化发展。