CROCIN, SAFRANAL AND PICROCROCIN FROM SAFFRON (CROCUS-SATIVUS L) INHIBIT THE GROWTH OF HUMAN CANCER-CELLS IN-VITRO

Extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been reported to inhibit cell growth of human tumor cells. In order to study the cytotoxic effe ct of the characteristic compounds of saffron spice, we have isolated crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. Doses inducing 50% cell gr owth inhibition (LD(50)) on HeLa cells were 2.3 mg/ml for an ethanolic extract of saffron dry stigmas, 3 mM for crocin, 0.8 mM for safranal and mM for picrocrocin. Crocetin did not show cytotoxic effect. Cells treated with crocin exhibited wide cytoplasmic vacuole-like areas, red uced cytoplasm, cell shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei, suggesting apoptos is induction. Considering its water-solubility and high inhibitory gro wth effect, crocin is the more promising saffron compound to be assaye d as a cancer therapeutic agent.