Pregnancy is a very crucial stage in a woman’s life and it is also a period when one comes across several myths regarding the diet to be followed in their quest to know more and ensure healthy beautiful baby. It is always recommended to consult your doctor before you add or make any changes to your diet. Using Saffron is one of the most commonly recommended dietary intake by elders during pregnancy.
Saffron is the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L. flower which commonly used as a natural remedy to enhance health and even fights disease in the Middle-East and Southeast Asian countries. These include antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antihistamine and memory-boosting effects.
Modern research has provided scientific evidence to support several of these curative assets, and particular attention has been given recently to saffron’s anticancer abilities. Studies have confirmed that saffron can interfere with cancer during initiation and progression and that it has antitumorigenic and proapoptotic activity.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer, is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. Medical evidence has shown that chronic infection with hepatitis B and C are major risk factors for HCC, and exposure to environmental carcinogens, iron overload, fatty liver disease and alcohol abuse can also contribute to development of liver cancer.
“In the fight against cancer, there has been much interest in chemopreventive properties of natural herbs and plants,” said Prof. Amr Amin from United Arab Emirates University. “With limited treatment options, approaches that prevent cancer development are among the best strategies to protect against the disease.” Prior studies have shown that saffron, a naturally derived plant product, possesses antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Saffron is a commonly used spice, adding flavor and color to foods, and a possible cancer-fighting substance that is readily available.
New research suggests that saffron provides a significant chemopreventive effect against liver cancer in animal models. When saffron was administered to rats with diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer an inhibition of cell proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis was observed. Full findings appear in the September issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
In order to further explore the potential of saffron in preventing the development and progression of HCC, DEN was used to induce lesions in rats, mimicking benign and malignant tumors in humans. The research team administered saffron to the animals at 75mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg per day two weeks prior to DEN injection and continued the regimen for 22 weeks.
“Our findings suggest that saffron provides an anti-cancer protective effect by promoting cell death (apoptosis), inhibiting proliferation of cancerous cells, and blocking inflammation,” concluded Prof. Amin. “Further investigation of saffron extract and its mechanism of action in HCC is currently underway.”
This study is published in Hepatology. Read more here.
What is the situation of Iranian saffron exports?
TEHRAN- Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) will hold the meeting of the National Saffron Export Desk this week, a senior official in the organization announced.
According to Mahmoud Bazari, the director-general of TPO’s Export Coordination Office for agro crops and processing industry products, the mentioned meeting is aimed at investigating the ways for the promotion of saffron exports and releasing the reports on the subject by related organizations including Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC), and National Saffron Council, TPO’s Public Relations Department reported on Sunday.
TPO has recently set up a special task force on the trade of saffron.
Underlining the significance of saffron in Iran’s exports, Hamid Zadboum, the head of TPO, has said that his organization has had supporting the exports of this product through offering different incentives a top agenda of its activities since the Iranian calendar year 1380 (March 2001- March 2002).
About 85 percent to 90 percent of Iran’s saffron is produced in the northeastern provinces of North Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi and the eastern province of South Khorasan.
Based on the data released by Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, Iran earns some $500 million annually by exporting medicinal herbs, of which about $350 million is related to saffron and the rest is the share of other medicinal herbs.
Source: Tehran Times
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These days that summer begins, the the price of saffron in Iran is hot. Due to the comments of two officials (Rural Cooperative Organization manager and a Member of Parliament) who want to increase the price of saffron in the domestic market. They have prepared and are running programs for achieving this Goal. What do you think? Does saffron price increase?
Frist thing, we should always remember is the effect of exchange rate. Officially, we have 3 exchanges rate for USD in IRAN. All of Iranian Company Must give 50% of their export USD to Nima system, 20 % to Importer companies, 30% to free market from these year (1399). If they do not, they will face heavy fines.
Each one has different Exchange rate. The exchange rate in Nima System is almost 30% below Free market!! It is possible to negotiate with importer companies but the exchange rate usually is 5% below market and the exchange rate in free market is set at 10:30 o’clock every morning. Each one has different Exchange rate. Based on this, the average exchange rate is 18,500 for July 06.
There is 2 market for Saffron in Iran that effect Each Other: Domestic Market & Future saffron exchange Market. Price in Future saffron exchange Market is more than Domestic Market most of time. Pls note that we discuss the price based on Negin Saffron because it accepted as Base in two markets.
Because of the comments of the officials, the price of saffron increased in Future saffron Exchange market in November. People are going to buy saffron and selling in exchange market because of price gap (near 897 – 681 =216 USD per kg).
We should remember, there is rule in exchange market; The closer we get to delivery time, the lower the price. It is very difficult to predict the saffron price in domestic market on November from now. The exchange Rate has big effect on saffron price in November. If exchange rate increase, It means devaluing Iran’s currency and It will reduce the effect of increasing of saffron price on export prices. If the exchange rate is constant (It is impossible), we will have increase in price.
The new changes include two sections:
1- The saffron exporter should return 80% of export currency to government unlike previous months!! It means they earn income less than before. It should effect saffron price but not too much. As you see We have a price reduction in two market.
2- In addition to the above factors there is a very important factor that effects saffron price. It is basic export rate of saffron. In the past, saffron exporter should declare 1200 USD per kg to government. it did not important that export price was less than it. the government considered 1200 as a base, then we as a exporter should buy from free market and delivered to government with lees price. This causes additional costs to be, but in August 2020, the government corrected the base price and came close to the market price.
The market was quiet last month. Not many impressive things happened. The only thing that happened was the increase of saffron price in the futures market. That was to be expected.
During the last month, three events affected the price of saffron in Iran that decrease saffron price in USD:
But another important event happened, which will probably increase the price of saffron by 20% during the next month. read more The price of saffron will be increased by 100% .
At this time, we are in middle of saffron new season. More than 50% of saffron flowers are harvested. The price are almost stable but it needs time to become clearly stable. two events have most effect on saffron price:
1- US Presidential Election: It has caused drastic changes in currency fluctuations.
2- Rural Cooperative Organization Intervention: They intend to determine the price floor of saffron. The goal is to increase the price by at least 50% compared to the previous year.
As you can see, the two domestic and futures market prices are almost close together. We predict that the price of Negin saffron in different qualities for the new season will be between 600 to 670 USD per kg. Now, we should wait and see what happens in new season.
If you have recently noticed that you have weak eyes or have recently encountered new eye problems and your glasses or medical lenses do not help you, it is better to go for saffron. Because according to recent studies, there may be a natural way to improve and enhance vision using saffron.
News: 7 to 10 percent growth of saffron cultivation in Afghanistan this year
Akbar Rostami, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, said that saffron cultivation in Afghanistan has increased by 7% in some areas this year. Afghanistan’s saffron fields are expected to increase by up to 10 percent, which will have a direct impact on increasing saffron yields,” He said.
Saffron is the most expensive spices in the world and there are a number of reasons why it is so. Here is a list or reasons:
News: Saffron stops yellow spot disease in eyes.
The collaboration between Royan Institute researchers and the University of Dresden in Germany revealed:
you can read more about saffron benefits here.
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world; hence extra care needs to be taken while storing saffron. Moreover, it is the aroma of saffron that gives it the special status, and if this pleasant aroma is lost due to poor storage. The very purpose of using saffron would be lost. Storing saffron in a proper manner helps preserve its freshness, taste and aroma for a long time. Saffron is highly sensitive to light. Its one of the reasons why harvest of its flowers is before sunrise. When saffron is exposed to light, it stands to lose its aroma and taste.