Research Center for Non-Communicable Disease, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
Golestan Rheumatology Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020 Jul 1;21(7):1867-1875. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.7.1867.
Medicinal plants have played an important role in human health since the Stone Age. According to WHO, 80% of Asian and African people rely on traditional medicine and medicinal plants to conserve their health. Saffron has received much attention among the herbal compounds related to cancer treatment.
This review aims to provide an overview of in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation molecule mechanism for anti-tumor activity, cancer preventing and protective effects of saffron extract. The review is based on the available data accessible in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran.ir, and SID.ir databases.
Saffron has selective toxic and preventive effects on cancerous cells and without adverse effects on normal cells and prevents tumor formation. Saffron appears to reduce the toxic effects of anticancer drugs. Saffron has toxicity effects when used in high amounts, which are far greater than those are used in human food culture.
Considering the observed effects of saffron on the removal of cancer cells, saffron extract can be used in the treatment and prevention of cancer after confirmation in human clinical trials. According to the high IC50 of saffron extracts in normal cells, its toxicity against non-cancerous cells is low and its use is safe. Besides, the studies suggested the cytotoxic effects of saffron on some of the more cancers, including nervous system cancer and common cancers. Further studies are required to determine the effective dose and influence of mechanism of saffron in various animal type of cancers.
自石器时代以来,药用植物在人类健康中发挥了重要作用。根据世界卫生组织的统计,80%的亚洲和非洲人依赖传统药物和药用植物来保持健康。藏红花在与癌症治疗相关的草药化合物中受到了广泛关注。
本综述旨在概述藏红花提取物的体外和体内评价分子机制,以及其抗肿瘤活性、癌症预防和保护作用。综述基于可从 PubMed、Science Direct、Google Scholar、Magiran.ir 和 SID.ir 数据库中获取的现有数据。
藏红花对癌细胞具有选择性的毒性和预防作用,而对正常细胞没有不良影响,并能预防肿瘤形成。藏红花似乎可以降低抗癌药物的毒性作用。藏红花在高剂量下使用时具有毒性作用,其毒性远大于人类食品文化中的使用量。
鉴于藏红花对清除癌细胞的观察到的作用,藏红花提取物可以在经过人类临床试验确认后用于癌症的治疗和预防。根据藏红花提取物在正常细胞中的高 IC50 值,其对非癌细胞的毒性较低,使用安全。此外,研究表明藏红花对一些更常见的癌症,包括神经系统癌症和常见癌症,具有细胞毒性作用。需要进一步研究确定藏红花在各种动物类型癌症中的有效剂量和作用机制。