Crocetin as an Active Secondary Metabolite of Saffron Stigma and Anticancer Effects

This study aimed to review previous invitro and invivo investigations on anticancer effects of this carotenoid and also proposed molecular mechanisms of its action. Literature reviewing between 1990 and 2017 was performed using pubmed and scopus databases. Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of crocetin have been observed in several cancers cell lines and also model organisms that might be due to the alternation in the expression of cancer-related genes and epigenetic changes. Moreover, several studies indicated synergistic effects of crocetin with common chemotherapy agents and mentioned it as a potential novel adjuvant therapy.
Source: Current Cancer Therapy Reviews - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research