A Survey on Saffron in Major Islamic Traditional Medicine Books

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Biotechnology Research Center and School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Islamic Traditional Medicine (ITM) is a holistic system of medicine. Saffron (Crocus sativus) is one of the most famous plants cultivated in Iran and has a wide range of activities such as oxytocic, anti-carcinogenic, exhilarant, anti-depressant, and anti-asthma effects. In addition, saffron can increase the bioavailability and enhance absorption of other drugs. This study comprises a bibliographical survey of 13 major ITM books regarding different medical aspects of this species. Ferdows al-Hekmah fi’l-Tibb (The Paradise of Wisdom in Medicine), Al-Hawi fi’l-Tibb (Comprehensive Book of Medicine), Kamel al-Sanaat al-Tibbyyah (Complete Book of the Medical Art), Al-Qanun fi’l-Tibb (Canon of Medicine), Zakhireh Kharazmshahi (Treasure of Kharazmshahi), and Makhzan al-Adwiah (Drug Treasure) are some of the most important ITM books used in this survey.

Keywords

References

  1. Kamal H. Encyclopedia of Islamic Medicine. General Egyptian Book Organization, Cairo. 1975. p. 7.
  2. Ibn Sina A. Al-Qanun fi'l-Tibb (Canon of Medicine). New Delhi: I.H.M.M.R. Printing Press: 1987. vol. 2.p.38, 206.
  3. Anonymous. PDR for herbal medicines. Thomson Healthcare INC, Montvale, N.J.2007. p. 485-488.
  4.  Mazhari N. Iridaceae. In: Asadi M., editor. Flora of Iran. Tehran: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands; 2000. vol. 31. p. 4-6.
  5. Daniel M. Medicinal Plants: Chemistry and Properties. Enfield: Science Publishers; 2006. p.138.
  6. Tabari A. Ferdows al-Hekmah fi al-Tibb (Paradise of Wisdom on Medicine). Al-Seddiqi, editor. Berlin: Aftab Press; 1928. p. 398.
  7. Premkumar K, Abraham SK, Santhiya ST, Ramesh A. Protective effects of saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) on genotoxins-induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice. Phytother Res 2003; 17:614-617.
  8. Razi MZ. Al-Hawi fi'l-Tibb (Comprehensive Book of Medicine). Khan A, editor. Hyderabad: Osmania Oriental Publications Bureau; 1968.Vol. 20. p. 548-553.
  9. Antaki D. Tazkere Oulol-albab (Memorandum Book). Shams a'ddin A, editor. Beirut: Dar-al-Kotob al-ilmiyah; 2000. Vol.1-3.p.174.
  10. Agha-Hosseini M, Kashani L, Aleyaseen A, Ghoreishi A, Rahmanpour H, Zarrinara AR, et al. Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG 2008; 115:515-519.
  11.  Fukui H, Toyoshima K, Komaki R. Psychological and neuroendocrinological effects of odor of saffron (Crocus sativus). Phytomedicine 2011; 18:726-730.
  12.  Moshiri E, Akhondzadeh Basti A, Noorbala AA, Jamshidi AH, Abbasi SH, Akhondzadeh S. Crocus sativus L. (petal) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression: A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2006; 13: 607-611.
  13.  Noorbala AA, Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Jamshidi AH. Hydroalcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A double-blind, randomized pilot trial. J Ethnopharmacol 2005; 97:281−284.
  14.  Jorjani SE. Zakhireh Kharazmshahi (Treasure of Kharazmshahi). Saeedi Sirjani A.A., editor. Photo print of the manuscript dated 1206 A.D Tehran: The lranian Culture Foundation; 1976. p. 664.
  15.  Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbala AA, Amini H, Fallah-Pour H, Jamshidi AH. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res 2005; 19:148-151.
  16.  Melnyk JP, Wang S, Marcone MF. Chemical and biological properties of the world's most expensive spice: Saffron. Food Res Int 2010; 43:1981-1989.
  17.  Hosseinzadeh H, Ziaee T, Sadeghi A. The effect of saffron, Crocus sativus stigma, extract and its constituents, safranal and crocin on sexual behaviors in normal male rats. Phytomedicine  2008; 15:491-495.
  18.  Hosseinzadeh H, Ziaee T, Sadeghi A. The effect of saffron, Crocus sativus stigma, extract and its constituents, safranal and crocin on sexual behaviors in normal male rats. Phytomedicine 2008; 15:491–495.
  19.  Shamsa A, Hosseinzadeh H, Molaei M, Shakeri MT, Rajabi O. Evaluation of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on male erectile dysfunction: A pilot study. Phyrtomedicine 2009; 16:690–693.
  20.  Heidary M, Vahhabi S, Reza Nejadi J, Delfan B, Birjandi M, Kaviani H, et al. Effect of saffron on semen parameters of infertile men. Urol J 2008; 5:255–259.
  21.  Xuan B, Zhou YH, Li N, Min ZD, Chiou GC. Effects of crocin analogs on ocular blood flow and retinal function. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 1991; 15:143–152.
  22.  Yamauchi M, Tsuruma K, Imai S, Nakanishi T, Umigai N, Shimazawa M, et al. Crocetin prevents retinal degeneration induced by oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stresses via inhibition of caspase activity. Eur J Pharmacol 2011; 650:110–119.
  23.  Kajita M, Umigai N, Nakano T, Amano H, Takeno R, Kajimoto O. Effect on asthenopia of high-crocetin-content GardeniaJasminoides Ellis extraction. Jpn J Vis Sci 2007; 28:77–84                (in Japanese).
  24.  Falsini B, Piccardi M, Minnella A, Savastano C, Capoluongo E, Fadda A, et al. Influence of saffron supplementation on retinal flicker sensitivity in early age related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2010; 51:6118–6124.
  25.  Boskabady MH, Aslani MR. Relaxant effect of Crocus sativus (saffron) on guinea-pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanisms. J Pharm Pharmacol 2006; 58:1385-1390.
  26.  Neamati N, Boskabady MH. Effect of Crocus sativus (saffron) on muscarinic receptors of guinea pig tracheal chains. funct plant sci biotechnol  2010; 4:128–131.
  27.  Nemati H, Boskabady MH, Ahmadzadef Vostakolaei H. Stimulatory effect of Crocus sativus (saffron) on b2-adrenoceptors of guinea pig tracheal chains. Phytomedicine 2008; 15:1038–1045.
  28.  Boskabady MH, Shafei MN, Shakiba A, Sefidi HS. Effect of aqueous-ethanol extract from Crocus sativus (saffron) on guinea-pig isolated heart. Phytother Res 2008; 22:330-334.
  29. Yan J, Qian Z, Sheng L, Zhao B, Yang L, Ji H, et al. Effect of crocetin on blood pressure restoration and synthesis of inflammatory mediators in heart after hemorrhagic shock in anesthetized rats. Shock 2010; 33:83-87.
  30.  Aqili Khorasani MH. Makhzan al-Adwiah (Drug Treasure). Reprinted from a copy which was printed in Calcutta dated in 1844. Tehran: Enqelab-e Eslami Publishing and Educational Organization; 1992. p. 472-473.
  31.  Tonekaboni MM. Tohfat al-Momenin (Rarity of the faithful). Tehran: Mostafavi Press; 1959. p. 136-137.
  32.  Magesh VSJ, Selvendiran K, Ekambaram G, Sakthisekaran D. Antitumour activity of crocetin in accordance to tumor incidence, antioxidant status, drug metabolizing enzymes and histopathological studies. Mol Cell Biochem 2006; 287:127-135.
  33.  Tavakkol-Afshari J, Brook A, Mousavi SH. Study of cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of saffron extract in human cancer cell lines. Food Chem Toxicol 2008; 46:3443-3447.
  34.  Heravi M. Al-Abniyah an Haqayeq al-Adwiyah (Basics of Realities on Drugs). Bahmanyar A, editor. Tehran: Tehran University Publications; 1967.p.171-172.
  35.  Majusi Ahwazi A. Kamel-al-Sanaat al-Tibbiah (The Perfect Art of Medicine) Al-Matbaah al-Misryyah. Bulaq: 1877. Vol.2, p. 118-119.
  36. Hosseinzadeh H, Younesi HM. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Crocus sativus L. stigma and petal extracts in mice. BMC Pharmacol 2002; 2:7.
  37.  Sahebari M, Mahmoudi Z, Rabe SZT, Haghmorad D, Mahmoudi MB, Hosseinzadeh H, et al. Inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on adjuvant-induced arthritis in wistar rat. Pharmacologyonline 2011; 3:802-808.
  38.  Ma S, Zhou S, Shu B, Zhou J. Pharmacological studies on Crocus glycosides I. Effects on antiinflammatory and immune function. Zhongcaoyao 1998; 29:536-539.
  39. Poma A, Fontecchio G, Carlucci G, Chichiriccò G. Anti-inflammatory properties of drugs from saffron crocus. Antiinflamm Antiallergy Agents Med Chem 2012; 11:37-51.
  40.  Wintherhalter P, Straubinger M. Saffron-  renewed interest in an ancient spice. Food Rev Int 2000; 16:39-59.
  41.  Steinegger E, Hensel R. Crocus. In: Blaschek. HagerRom: Hagers Handbuch derDrogen und Arzneistoffe. Hackenthal ESW, Holzgrabe U, Keller K, Reichling J, editor. Heidelberg: Springer Electronic Media; 2003.
  42.  Bathaie SZ, Mousavi SZ. New applications of saffron and molecular mechanism of its constituent’s action. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2010; 50:761–786.
  43.  Mousavi SZ, Bathaie SZ. Historical uses of saffron: identifying potential new avenues for modern research. Ibn Sina J Phytomed 2011; 1:        57–67.
  44.  Hosseinzadeh H, Nassiri-Asl M. Ibn Sina's (Ibn Sina) the Canon of Medicine and Saffron (Crocus sativus): A Review. Phytother Res 2012; doi:10.1002/ptr.4784.
  45.  Akhawayni Bukhari AB. Hedayat al-Mota’allemin fi al-Tibb (An Educational Guide for Medical Students). Matini J, editor. Mashhad: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Publication; 1992.
  46.  Jorjani, SE. Al-Aghraz al-Tibbiah walMabaheth al Alaiiah (Medical Goals and Allaii’s Discussions). Tehran: The lranian Culture Foundation. 1966. p. 591-592.
  47.  Ibn Beytar Z. Al-Jamee Le-Mofradaatal- Adwiah wal- Aghziyah (Comprehensive Book in Simple Drugs and Foods). Beirut: Dar- Al-Kotob Al-ilmiyah. 2001. p. 467.
  48.  Ibn Nafis Qarshi AD. Al-Mujaz fi'l-Tibb         (A Commentary on Ibn Sina’s Canon). A. Azbavi, editor. Cairo:Ihyaa al-Torath al-Islami. 2001. p. 94.
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 16, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
SAFFRON SPECIAL ISSUE
January 2013
Pages 1-11

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics