Application

Crocin has been used: as a reference standard to detect its presence in Crocus sativus L. extract using high-performance liquid chromatography technique to investigate its protective effects as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent against doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats to test antitumor effects and its role in promoting autophagy and apoptosis and inhibiting the progression of cervical cancer on SiHa cells and female BALB/c nude mice as a co-treatment with cisplatin to test its protective effect against cisplatin (CIS)-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Biochem/physiol Actions

Crocin alleviates some ethanol-induced impairments of learning and prevents ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that may underly learning and memory. Related CNS effects are specific to the digentiobiose ester; crocetin glucose gentiobiose ester is half as potent, and the diglucose ester has no effect at all.

Crocin exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, antidegenerative, and antidiabetic properties.

General description

Crocin (CR) is a water-soluble carotenoid found in Gardenia jasmi-noides Ellis and Crocus sativus (saffron). It has two D-gentiobioside glycosyl esters in its structure. CR is one of the major bioactive compounds of saffron contributing to its red color.

A highly unsaturared diterpene dicarboxylic acid ester found in saffron.

Other Notes

Tandem Mass Spectrometry data independently generated by Scripps Center for Metabolomics is available to view or download in PDF. 17304.pdf Tested metabolites are featured on Scripps Center for Metabolomics METLIN Metabolite Database. To learn more, visit sigma.com/metlin.