HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SAFFRON/653LITERATURE
SAFFLOWER FLOWERS
Akihisa T, Yasukawa K, Oinuma H, Kasahara Y, Yamanouchi
S, Takido M, Kumaki K. Tamura T, Triterpene alcohols from
the flowers of Compositae and their anti-inflammatory effects.
Phytochemistry, 12:1255-60, 1996 Dec.
Amling R, Phytotherapeutika in der Neurologic In: ZPT
12(1):9. 1991.
Caldes G et al., (1981) J Gen Appl Microbiol 27, 157.
Chan, EH et al., (Eds.). Advances in Chinese Medicinal
Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.
Kern W, List PH, .Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Liu F, Wei Y, Yang XZ, Li FG, Hu J, Cheng RF, Hypotensive
effects of safflower yellow in spontaneously hypertensive rats
and influence on plasma renin activity and angiotensin II level.
Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao. 27:785-7, 1992.
Lu ZW, Liu F, Hu J, Bian D, Li FG, Suppressive effects of
safflower yellow on immune functions. Chung Kuo Yao Li
Hsueh Pao, 12:537-42, 1991 Nov.
Martiner Flores H, Cruz Mondragon C, Larios Saldana A
Reduction of crude fiber content in safflower meal (Carthamus
tinctorius L) and its potential use in human food. Arch
Latinoam Nutr. 284:295-8, 1996 Dec.
Nose M, FuJimoto T, Takeda T, Nishibe S, Ogihara Y,
Structural transformation of lignan compounds in rat
gastrointestinal tract. Planta Med, 53:520-3, 1992 Dec.
Shi M, Chang L, He G, Stimulating action of Carthamus
tinctorius L. Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Leonurus
sibiricus L. on the uterus. Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih,
20:173-5 192, 1995 Mar.
Thomson RH, Naturally Occurring Quinones, 2nd Ed.,
Academic Press New York 1971.
Yasukawa K et al., Inhibitory effect of alkane-68-diols the
components of safflower on tumor promotion by 12-0-
tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in
mouse skin. Oncology, 53:133-6, 1996 Mar-Apr.
Zhang HL, Nagatsu A, Watanabe T, Sakakibara J, Okuyama H,
Antioxidative compounds isolated from safflower (Carthamus
tinctorius L.) oil cake. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 45:1910-4,
1997 Dec.
Zhang HL, Nagatsu A, Watanabe T, Sakakibara J, Okuyama H,
Tinctormine a "novel Ca2+ antagonist N-containing
quinochalcone C-glycoside from Carthamus tinctorius L. Chem
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SAFFLOWER OIL
Caldes, G et al., (1981) J Gen Appl Microbiol 27, 157.Chan, EH et al., (Eds.), Advances in Chinese Medicinal
Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
mbH Stuttgart 1997.
Xu SX, (1986) Chung Yao Tung Pao 11(2):42.Bastard Saffron
Crocus sativus -.:_.-
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the stigma and
style.
Flower and Fruit: The lily-like flowers have two 2 bracts at
the base. There is a pale violet-veined calyx, yellow anthers
and a white filament. The thread-like style is 10 mm long.
The stigma is bright orange. The plant is non-fruit-bearing.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The grass-like plant is a perennial
that grows 8 to 30 cm high. There is a large squat tuber,
surrounded by reticulate and fibrous sheaths. The leaves are
erect or splayed, narrow, and have a ciliate margin and keel.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to India, the Balkans and
the eastern Mediterranean region. It is cultivated in India,
Spain, France, Italy and the Middle East.
Production: Saffron is produced by drying the brown-red
stigma over fire.
Not to be Confused With: The powdered drug is more or less
always adulterated; Calsendula officinalis, Carthamus tincto-
rius are usually used.Other Names: Spanish Saffron
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Apocarotinoid glycosides: in particular crocin (crocetin-beta-
digentiobioside), colored intensive yellow orange ^
Picrocrocin (glycosidic bitter principle, up to 4%): the
apocarotinoids and picrocrocin are presumably breakdown
products of a carotinoid-digentiobioside-diglucoside (proto-
crocin)
Volatile oil (0.4 to 1.3%): components 4,5-dehydro-beta-
cyclocitral (safranal), 4-hydroxy-beta-cyclocitral (breakdown
products of the picrocrocin)
Carotinoids: lycopene, alpha-, beta-, gamma-caroteneFatty oil