Preliminary study of saffron (Crocus sativus L. stigmas) color extraction in a dairy matrix

Saffron spice has been used for decades as an ingredient in many dairy products but changes in its coloring properties related to milk characteristics have not been paid appropriate attention. Saffron color was studied in ewes’ milk at different fat levels and saffron concentrations using tristimulus colorimetry. In order to evaluate saffron extraction, different temperatures and extraction times were tested. Color changes were demonstrated to be statistically significant when increasing the fat content in milk, as well as saffron concentration. The higher milk fat content, turned the extracts brighter and yellower, while less red and vivid, opposite to results obtained by increasing saffron concentration. Extraction time was not significant for color extraction. Milk extracts resulted slightly brighter and yellower when increasing temperature, probably due to crocetin esters degradation or isomerization from trans to cis configuration. Temperatures between 37 and 70 °C are recommended to avoid structural changes in milk or saffron. Color changes could be due to interactions mediated by phospholipids between milk fat globules and crocetin esters, as well as minor saffron carotenoids.     

西红花酸对溃疡性结肠炎大鼠模型的作用及其机制研究

目的: 研究西红花酸(crocetin)对2,4,6-三硝基苯磺酸(TNBS)/乙醇诱导的大鼠溃疡性结肠炎(ulcerative colitis, UC)的作用及可能机制。方法: 采用TNBS/乙醇混合复制溃疡性结肠炎模型,用不同剂量的西红花酸进行干预。观察大鼠结肠组织形态变化;检测髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、丙二醛(MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性;ELISA法测定肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白介素-1β(IL-1β)含量;实时荧光定量PCR(Q-PCR)检测Toll样受体4(TLR4)和核转录因子-κBp65(NF-κBp65)基因的表达;免疫组化分析TLR4和NF-κBp65蛋白的表达。结果: 西红花酸能改善UC大鼠结肠形态及组织病理学变化;西红花酸能抑制MPO活性、降低MDA含量、提高SOD活性;西红花酸能下调TNF-α和IL-1β的含量;西红花酸能降低TLR4和NF-κBp65基因与蛋白的表达。结论: 西红花酸能有效改善溃疡性结肠炎大鼠的结肠炎症反应, 其作用机制与抗氧化、抑制TLR4/NF-κB信号通路等有关。     

西红花酸对乙醛诱导的肝星状细胞增殖和胶原合成的影响

目的: 探讨西红花酸(Crocetin)对乙醛刺激的大鼠肝星状细胞(Hepatic stellate cell, HSC)增殖和胶原合成的影响及其作用机制。方法: 培养大鼠肝星状细胞HSC-T6,建立乙醛诱导的HSC纤维化模型;用不同浓度的西红花酸(10^-6、10^-7、10^-8 mol/L)对乙醛刺激的HSC-T6进行处理,MTT法检测细胞增殖;羟脯氨酸测定检测HSC-T6胶原含量;流式细胞分析仪测定细胞凋亡;Western blot检测细胞ERK1/2、Bax、Bcl-2蛋白的表达;RT-PCR检测Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白、间质胶原酶(MMP-2)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)的基因表达。结果: 在一定浓度范围里,西红花酸能抑制乙醛引起的HSC增殖和胶原合成; 西红花酸诱导乙醛刺激的HSC细胞凋亡;西红花酸能增加Bax蛋白表达,降低乙醛刺激升高的ERK1/2、Bcl-2蛋白表达;西红花酸能明显降低Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原、TIMP-1的表达,提高MMP-2的表达。结论: 西红花酸通过抑制乙醛诱导的HSC增殖和胶原合成以及促进活化的HSC凋亡起到抗肝纤维化作用,其机制可能与ERK信号传导通路和对基质金属蛋白酶的调节有关。     

Uncovering a challenging case of adulterated commercial saffron

The analytical approach presented uncovers the type of adulteration of a commercial product labeled as “saffron”, sold packed in powder form in a major consuming country. Simple colorimetric and spectrometric tests included in the ISO 3632 trade standard indicated only that it was not “pure saffron”. The TLC and HPLC methods recommended in the same standard for the detection of artificial colorants were not applicable due to limited sample amount available. Since it could not be precluded that substances other than artificial colorants have been used, deeper investigation through metabolic fingerprinting was necessary to uncover chemical composition of the sample. The multistep workflow that exploited chromatographic (HPLC) and spectroscopic (UV–Vis, mid-infrared (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)) data from in-house databases uncovered a “tailor-made” case of 100% substitution of saffron by a mixture of exogenous chemical compounds in such a way that the commercial product would approximately mimic not only the appearance of saffron but also its UV–Vis spectrum and specific absorbance values. The findings indicated a sophisticated practice, including total substitution of saffron constituents by tartrazine and sunset yellow along with propane-1,2-diol, propan-2-ol and acylglycerols, probably as emulsifier agents. Interestingly, the perpetrators avoided the use of toxic compounds. To our knowledge such a type of fraud has not been elucidated so far.     

西红花酸对心肌成纤维细胞增殖和胶原合成的影响

目的: 探讨西红花酸(crocetin)对血管紧张素Ⅱ(angiotensinⅡ, AngⅡ)诱导的心肌成纤维细胞(cardiac fibroblasts, CFB)增殖和胶原合成的影响及其作用机制。方法: 体外培养新生SD大鼠CFB,建立AngⅡ诱导新生大鼠CFB纤维化模型;MTT法检测CFB的增殖;羟脯氨酸测定检测CFB胶原含量;流式细胞分析仪测定细胞周期;实时荧光定量PCR(Q-PCR)检测Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白、间质胶原酶(MMP-2)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)、转化生长因子β₁(TGF-β₁)的基因表达;蛋白免疫印迹(Western Blot)检测细胞P27^kip1 (P27)蛋白的表达。结果: (1)在一定浓度范围里,crocetin能抑制AngⅡ引起的CFB增殖和胶原合成,并呈剂量依赖;(2)CFB G₀/G₁期百分率随crocetin浓度增加而增加,S期、G₂/M期百分率和增殖指数随crocetin浓度增加而减少,与AngⅡ组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05 或P<0.01);(3)Crocetin能明显降低Ⅰ型、Ⅲ型胶原、TIMP1、TGF-β₁的表达,提高MMP-2的表达;(4)Crocetin能增加P27蛋白表达。结论: Crocetin通过抑制AngⅡ诱导的CFB增殖和胶原合成起到抗心肌纤维化作用,其机制可能与细胞因子分泌和对基质金属蛋白酶的调节有关。