Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hala Samaha, Nathalie Chahine, Anatoly Petrovich Sobolev, Luigi Menghini, Hassane Makhlouf
Summary: This study investigated the chemical composition of Lebanese saffron for the first time and found that its composition differs from saffron produced in other countries in terms of fatty acids, glucose, and picrocrocin content. Furthermore, it differentiated saffron produced in different regions within Lebanon, showing variations in chemical composition.
Article
Horticulture
Zhen Wang, Xin Li, Junxu Xu, Zhen Yang, Yongchun Zhang
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of different temperatures and incubation periods on flower initiation and flowering of saffron. It found that the optimal temperature (between 20 and 25 degrees C) can effectively promote flower initiation, while inappropriate temperatures (15 degrees C or 25 degrees C) can lead to flower interruption. The best incubation method involves incubating at a slightly high temperature for 2 to 3 weeks, transferring to a suitable temperature for 1 to 2 months, and then transferring to a lower temperature for flowering.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Matteo Busconi, Elisabeth Wischnitzki, Marcello Del Corvo, Licia Colli, Giovanna Soffritti, Lorenzo Stagnati, Silvia Fluch, Eva Maria Sehr, Marcelino de los Mozos Pascual, Jose Antonio Fernandez
Summary: This study represents the first epigenomic study on saffron crocus, revealing high epigenetic variability among different saffron accessions, including sequences encoding proteins that could explain different phenotypes. The comparison of hypomethylomes also showed a high number of SNPs likely due to prolonged vegetative propagation. Gene ontology analysis indicated a clear difference in polymorphic gene distribution among accessions, possibly influenced by geographic origin.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Seyyed Jalal Azari, Ali Sorooshzadeh, Jafar Nabati, Ehsan Oskoueian
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of fertilization and planting depth on antioxidant activities in saffron. It found that using nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate fertilizers and planting at a depth of 15 cm increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, improving saffron's tolerance to freezing stress.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yaser Esmaeilian, Mohammad Behzad Amiri, Ehsan Neamatollahi
Summary: The study found that applying 60 t ha(-1) cow manure under 20 x 5 cm planting density can achieve suitable economic yield in saffron cultivation.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefania Stelluti, Matteo Caser, Sonia Demasi, Valentina Scariot
Summary: The study revealed that dried saffron tepals are rich in antioxidant properties and valuable phytochemicals. In terms of extraction techniques, ultrasound-assisted extraction using water or low percentage methanol solvents showed similar results to maceration but with reduced processing time. This demonstrates the potential for efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from saffron tepals for various industries.
Review
Neurosciences
Grazia D'Onofrio, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Daniele Sancarlo, Antonio Greco, Stefano Pieretti
Summary: Research has shown that saffron and its compounds have a certain therapeutic effect and neuroprotective effect on cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease, possibly by regulating glutamate levels, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating Aβ and tau protein aggregation. Further investigation is needed to consider saffron as a safer alternative in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joel Jose-Santhi, Firdous Rasool Sheikh, Diksha Kalia, Rajesh Kumar Singh
Summary: Temperature plays a crucial role in regulating flowering in saffron. High temperature promotes flowering while low temperature suppresses it. This temperature-dependent flower induction is mediated by changes in sugar metabolism genes and the FT3 gene.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nikita Agarwal, Nikolai Kolba, YeonJin Jung, Jacquelyn Cheng, Elad Tako
Summary: This study assessed the effects of saffron flower water extract (CFWE) on hemoglobin, brush border membrane (BBM) functionality, intestinal gene expression, and cecal microbiome in Gallus gallus. The results showed that CFWE had negative effects on BBM functionality, morphology, mineral absorption, microbial populations, and iron status.
Article
Microbiology
Iris Marisa Maxaieie Victorino, Samuele Voyron, Matteo Caser, Alberto Orgiazzi, Sonia Demasi, Andrea Berruti, Valentina Scariot, Valeria Bianciotto, Erica Lumini
Summary: Soil fungi play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning by influencing ecosystem structure as decomposers, plant mutualists, and pathogens. This study investigated the fungal communities in two Alpine saffron cultivation sites and evaluated the relative impact of two specific AMF inocula on resident fungal communities. The results showed that the sampling year had a significant influence on Alpine saffron-field fungal communities, while neither sites nor inoculation had a significant impact.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Tareq Abu-Izneid, Abdur Rauf, Anees Ahmed Khalil, Ahmed Olatunde, Ahood Khalid, Fahad A. Alhumaydhi, Abdullah S. M. Aljohani, Md Sahab Uddin, Mojtaba Heydari, Mars Khayrullin, Mohammad Ali Shariati, Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, Ahmed Alafnan, Kannan R. R. Rengasamy
Summary: Saffron is commonly used in traditional medicine and has been studied for its therapeutic effects on the nervous system. Its active constituents, including apocarotenoids, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phytosterols, have been shown to have neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, learning, and memory-enhancing effects.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Adal Mena-Garcia, Diego Herrero-Gutierrez, Maria L. Sanz, Marina Diez-Municio, Ana I. Ruiz-Matute
Summary: Food supplements made from saffron extracts are popular due to their various bioactive properties, and it is important to standardize these extracts to ensure product quality and safety. The current methods of standardization, which focus on the safranal content, may not provide accurate measurements. This study suggests using crocin isomers and trans-/cis-crocins, as well as the trans-4 GG/picrocrocin ratios, as new criteria for saffron extract standardization. The relative content of these components and their stability over 36 months in a commercial standardized saffron extract were successfully demonstrated.
Article
Plant Sciences
Soukaina Chaouqi, Natalia Moratalla-Lopez, Gonzalo L. Alonso, Candida Lorenzo, Abdelmjid Zouahri, Nazha Asserar, El Mehdi Haidar, Taoufiq Guedira
Summary: Climate and soil affect the quality of saffron, which is determined by secondary metabolites. The study analyzed saffron samples using HPLC-DAD and analyzed soil samples using physicochemical methods, ED-XRF fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. Saffron grown in loam-clay-sand soils contained high levels of crocins and kaempferol 3-sophoroside 7-glucoside, but low levels of safranal. Saffron grown in soils rich in organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium also had high levels of crocins and kaempferol 3-sophoroside 7-glucoside, but low levels of safranal. The presence of clays with low iron content was found to have a positive effect on the coloring strength of saffron.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Defu Wang, Liyan Cui, Hui Ren, Yufen Wang, Dandan Long, Yanbing Niu
Summary: The study demonstrated that saffron lateral bud ethanol extracts have significant anti-fungal activities against common food-borne pathogenic fungi, especially against Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride. These inhibitory effects were stable in neutral and acidic pH ranges. The separation of the ethyl acetate phase revealed that fraction 6 had the strongest anti-fungal effect, with major compounds belonging to polyphenols.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Mostafa Eftekhari, Majid Ghorbani Javid, Sasan Aliniaeifard, Silvana Nicola
Summary: The application of exogenous GABA and a combination of red and blue lights can enhance the production of saffron flowers and improve the quality of stigmas in saffron plants.
