PDR for Herbal Medicines

654 /SAFFRON

Starch

EFFECTS

Small doses of Saffron stimulate the secretion of the gastric

juices. Large doses stimulate the smooth muscle of the

uterus.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Saffron is no longer of interest medicinally.

It is sometimes used in folk medicine to stimulate digestion.

Chinese Medicine: Chinese uses include menorrhagia, amen-

orrhea, high-risk deliveries and postpartum lochiostasis.

Indian Medicine: In India, Saffron is used for bronchitis,

sore throat, headache, vomiting and fever.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: Health risks or side effects following the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not

recorded.

Pregnancy: The herb is not to be used during pregnancy.

OVERDOSAGE

Lethal poisonings can occur with overdoses or through the

abuse of larger doses as an abortient (abortive dosage

approximately 10 gm, lethal dosage approximately 12 to 20

gm).

Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, uterine bleeding,

intestinal colic, bloody diarrhea, hematuria, severe schwere

purpuras, hemorrhaging of skin of the nose, lips and eyelids,

attacks of dizziness, stupor, yellowing of the skin and the

mucous membranes (through inclusion of the apocarotino-

dermas) and central paralysis.

The treatment consists of stomach and intestinal emptying
(gastric lavage, sodium sulfate) and the administration of
activated charcoal; convulsions to be treated with diazepam,
colics with atropine, and any eventual acidosis with sodium
bicarbonate infusions. Intubation and oxygen respiration may
also be necessary.
DOSAGE
Storage: It is stored in air-tight, non-synthetic containers and
protected from light.
LITERATURE
Dhingra VK et al., (1975) Ind J Chem 13:339.
Dufresne C, Cormier F, Dorion S, In vitro formation of
crocetin glucosyl esters by Crocus sativus callus extract. Planta
Med, 16:150-3, 1997 Apr.
Duquenois P, (1972) Bull Soc Pharm Strasbourg 15:149.
Escribano J, Alonso GL, Coca-Prados M, Fernandez JA, Crocin
safranal and picrocrocin from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) inhibit
the growth of human cancer cells in vitro. Cancer Lett, 100:23-
30, 1996 Feb 27.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Morimoto S et al., Post-harvest degradation of carotenoid

glucose esters in saffron. In: PM 60(5):438. 1994.

Thesen R, Phytotherapeutika - nicht immer harmlos. In: ZPT

9(49): 105. 1988.

Wagner K, Dissertation Universitat Saarbriicken. 1969.

Further information in:

Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Vol. 1, 2nd Ed.,

CRC Press 1975.

Frohne D, Pfander HJ: Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fiir

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss.

Verlagsges. mbH Stuttgart 1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers: Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Liakopoulou-Kyriakides M, Skubas Al, Characterization of the

platelet aggregation inducer and inhibitor isolated from Crocus

• sativus. Biochem Int, 22:103-10, 1990 Oct.
  Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
  Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
  Nair SC, Kurumboor SK, Hasegawa JH, Saffron
  chemoprevention in biology and medicine: a review. Cancer
  Biother, 5:257-64, 1995 Winter.
  Nair SC, Pannikar B, Panikkar KR, Antitumor activity of
  saffron (Crocus sativus). Cancer Lett, 57:109-14, 1991 May 1.
  Nair SC, Salomi MJ, Panikkar B, Panikkar KR, Modulatory
  effects of Crocus sativus and Nigella sativa extracts on
  cisplatin-induced toxicity in mice. J Ethnopharmacol, 16:75-83,
  1991 Jan.
  Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K. Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Salomi MJ, Nair SC, Panikkar KR, Inhibitory effects of Nigella
   sativa and saffron (Crocus sativus) on chemical carcinogenesis
   in mice. Nutr Cancer, 16:67-72, 1991.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Tang W, Eisenbrand G, Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin,
   Springer Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   mbH Stuttgart 1997.
   Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   Stuttgart 1997.