Department of Physiology and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Buali Institute, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
J Med Food. 2011 Dec;14(12):1538-45. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2011.1697.
The effects of macerated extracts of Crocus sativus (Family Iridaceae) (saffron) on cell viability and cytokine release of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and nonstimulated cells were examined. The effects of three concentrations of macerated extract, dexamethasone, and saline on cell viability and production of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were evaluated. In cells stimulated with PHA, different concentrations of the extract significantly inhibited cell viability of lymphocytes (P<.001 for all concentrations). High concentrations of the extract (500 μg/mL) also inhibited secretion of IFN-γ in stimulated cells and IL-10 secretion in both stimulated and nonstimulated cells (P<.05 for all cases). The effects of high and low concentrations of the extract (500 and 50 μg/mL, respectively) on IL-4 secretion were lower than that of dexamethasone (P<.05 to P<.001). The extract showed a stimulatory effect on IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion in nonstimulated cells. The ratios of IFN-γ to IL-4 in the presence of all concentrations of saffron on stimulated cells were significantly higher than for the control group (P<.05 to P<.01). These results indicated that the extract of saffron leads to increased ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4.
番红花（鸢尾科）浸渍提取物对植物血凝素（PHA）刺激的外周血单个核细胞（PBMNC）和未刺激细胞活力和细胞因子释放的影响进行了研究。评估了三种浓度的浸渍提取物、地塞米松和生理盐水对细胞活力和细胞因子（包括白细胞介素（IL）-4、IL-10 和干扰素-γ（IFN-γ））产生的影响。在 PHA 刺激的细胞中，不同浓度的提取物显著抑制淋巴细胞的细胞活力（所有浓度的 P<.001）。高浓度的提取物（500μg/mL）还抑制了刺激细胞中 IFN-γ的分泌以及刺激和未刺激细胞中 IL-10 的分泌（所有情况下 P<.05）。高浓度和低浓度提取物（分别为 500μg/mL 和 50μg/mL）对 IL-4 分泌的影响低于地塞米松（P<.05 至 P<.001）。提取物对未刺激细胞中 IFN-γ和 IL-4 的分泌具有刺激作用。在存在所有浓度番红花的情况下，刺激细胞中 IFN-γ与 IL-4 的比值明显高于对照组（P<.05 至 P<.01）。这些结果表明，番红花提取物导致 IFN-γ与 IL-4 的比值增加。
