Wound Healing Potential of Crocin and Safranal, Main Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), the Active Constituents in Excision Wound Model in Rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v10i.1900Keywords:
Crocin; Safranal; Saffron; Wound Healing; Traditional Persian MedicineAbstract
Background: Saffron is traditionally suggested for wound healing in Persian medicine. It is investigated for wound healing effect in multiple studies with promising results. It is not examined that which ingredient of saffron contributes more to this effect. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the wound healing potential of saffron and its active constituents, crocin, and safranal, in rats. Materials and Methods: Forty female adult rats with induced excision wounds were randomly divided into four groups to receive topical formulation of saffron, crocin, safranal, and placebo for seven days. The Wound area and histopathologic stage of wound healing were evaluated as outcome measures. Results: The wound area was significantly lower in treatment groups (saffron, crocin, and safranal) compared to the control group on day 7 of the intervention. Compared to the control group, the wound in all treated groups showed a decreased inflammatory response and more progression to the proliferation phase. The saffron group showed more advanced healing phase with complete epithelialization of the wound on day 7 of study when partial and no epithelialization was observed in safranal and crocin groups. Conclusion: The study showed the wound healing properties of both safranal and crocin with the slight superiority of safranal. However, saffron seems to be more potent in wound healing effect compared to safranal and crocin as its main active constituents. [GMJ.2021;10:e1900]
References
Li J, Chen J, Kirsner R. Pathophysiology of acute wound healing. Clin Dermatol. 2007;25(1):9-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2006.09.007PMid:17276196 Bradley M, Cullum N, Nelson EA, Petticrew M, Sheldon T, Torgerson D. Systematic reviews of wound care management: (2). Dressings and topical agents used in the healing of chronic wounds. Health Technol Assess. 1999;3(17 Pt 2):1-35 https://doi.org/10.3310/hta3172 Biswas TK, Mukherjee B. Plant medicines of Indian origin for wound healing activity: a review. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2003;2(1):25-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534734603002001006PMid:15866825 Hosseinzadeh H, Nassiri-Asl M. Avicenna's (Ibn Sina) the Canon of Medicine and saffron (Crocus sativus): a review. Phytother Res. 2013;27(4):475-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4784PMid:22815242 Zeka K, Ruparelia KC, Sansone C, Macchiarelli G, Continenza MA, Arroo RR. New hydrogels enriched with antioxidants from saffron crocus can find applications in wound treatment and/or beautification. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2018;31(2):95-8. https://doi.org/10.1159/000486135PMid:29393263 Verjee S, Garo E, Pelaez S, Fertig O, Hamburger M, Butterweck V. Saffron flower extract promotes scratch wound closure of keratinocytes and enhances VEGF production. Planta Med. 2017;83(14/15):1176-83. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-109002PMid:28427103 Khorasani G, Hosseinimehr SJ, Zamani P, Ghasemi M, Ahmadi A. The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus) extract for healing of second-degree burn wounds in rats. Keio J Mede. 2008;57(4):190-5. https://doi.org/10.2302/kjm.57.190PMid:19110531 Alemzadeh E, Oryan A. Effectiveness of a Crocus sativus extract on burn wounds in rats. Planta Med. 2018;84(16):1191-200. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0631-3620PMid:29791931 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/legislation_en.htm) Niazi M, Mehrabani M, Namazi MR, Salmanpour M, Heydari M, Karami MM, Parvizi MM, Fatemi I, Mehrbani M. Efficacy of a topical formulation of henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) in contact dermatitis in patients using prosthesis: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2020;49(1):102316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102316PMid:32147071 Fischer AH, Jacobson KA, Rose J, Zeller R. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissue and cell sections. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2008;2008(5):pdb. prot4986. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot4986PMid:21356829 Hashempur MH, Hashempour MM, Mosavat SH, Heydari M. Rhazes-his life and contributions to the field of dermatology. JAMA dermatol. 2017;153(1):70. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0144PMid:28114524 Atarzadeh F, Heydari M, Sanaye MR, Amin G. Avicenna-A pioneer in dermatology. JAMA dermatol. 2016;152(11):1257. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.0026PMid:27829112 Ahmed S, Hasan MM, Heydari M, Rauf A, Bawazeer S, Abu-Izneid T, Rebezov M, Shariati MA, Daglia M, Rengasamy KR. Therapeutic potentials of crocin in medication of neurological disorders. Food Chem Toxicol. 2020;145(1):111739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2020.111739PMid:32916219 Hosseinzadeh H, Ziaee T, Sadeghi A. The effect of saffron, Crocus sativus stigma, extract and its constituents, safranal and crocin on sexual behaviors in normal male rats. Phytomedicine. 2008;15(6-7):491-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2007.09.020PMid:17962007 Bukhari SI, Pattnaik B, Rayees S, Kaul S, Dhar MK. Safranal of Crocus sativus L. inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and attenuates asthma in a mouse model of asthma. Phytother Res. 2015;29(4):617-27. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5315PMid:25756352 Samarghandian S, Shabestari MM. DNA fragmentation and apoptosis induced by safranal in human prostate cancer cell line. Indian J Urol.. 2013;29(3):177. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-1591.117278PMid:24082436 PMCid:PMC3783695
