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what is the usage of crocin in food industry?

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In many countries today we are witnessing a continuous increase in the production and variety of food products. This makes innovation and application of new technologies unavoidable. On the other hand, as a result and because of the modern industrial methods, the food chain has become much more complex, increasing the possibility of chemical contamination of food products. Modern applied research methods are an essential part of the technology to produce ready-and semi-ready-to-use saffron products of nutritious value in order to satisfy the potential needs of consumers.

Saffron is a natural organic colorant and unlike other plant colorants it is highly permanent and does not fade easily; in fact it is mainly used because of its high coloring power. Therefore it has many applications in water environments and its use in the food industry is quite economical.
For the above reasons, there is a day growing trend of using saffron in food technology and formulation of new saffron products such as: saffron dessert powder, saffron crème caramel powder, saffron beverage powder, saffron cake mix, saffron cream powder, saffron batter powder, different semi-ready to use saffron soups and different saffron spice mixtures.

Crocin, the key of using saffon

One of the most widely used natural colorants is crocin, sometimes called crocin yellow, which is a common food dye in the Far East. It is responsible for the colour of saffron, which is prepared from flowers of the crocus, Crocus sativus L., and it is also extracted from the fruits of the gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Alos, it is one of main carotenoids and pharmacologically active components of saffron.

Saffron has been a spice for a long time. Most of us use powdered or string saffron at home, and for saffron rice and saffron syrup. But the consumption of saffron in foods does not end there. Today, many sectors of the food industry use saffron to flavor and color their products. The usage of saffron are as follows:

1- Application of saffron in beverage and other beverage industries

One of the areas of use of saffron is in the production of beverages. The amount of saffron used in non-alcoholic beverages is usually 3 to 7 parts per million. Saffron is also used in the preparation of herbal syrups, including simple lemon and saffron syrups.

2- Application of saffron in confectionery and baking industries

Another use of saffron is in the confectionery industry. The amount of saffron used in confectionery is usually 10 parts per million. Saffron is used to color and flavor flour products, including cakes, bread.

“Saffron is the raw material of many products in the world”

3- Application of saffron in dairy industry

Saffron is also used in dairy products such as milk, cream, butter and ice cream. The amount of saffron used in ice cream is 3 to 7.5 parts per million.

4- Application of saffron in meat industry

Finally, the use of saffron in the meat industry can be mentioned. Saffron is used as an aromatic spice to color meat products such as sausages. Saffron is also used in the preparation of canned meat, especially chicken-based products. The amount of saffron used in meat is 260 parts per million.

Does saffron improve COVID19?

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The world as we know it has changed significantly in the post-COVID era. NO completely effective drugs and treatments are not recognized for this virus. As we continue to deal with the fallout of the pandemic, the numbers of people dealing with depression, anxiety, and the consequences of long-term stress will likely continue to grow.

Mood disorders, an increasing issue

Stress induces the human body to produce cortisol, the “stress hormone,” which can impact virtually every system in the body. While short-term cortisol effects are natural and even beneficial, most people are dealing with long-term effects, which can cause symptoms ranging from fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, increased blood pressure, insomnia, and a host of others – most significantly, anxiety and depression.

In the next few years, we will see record numbers of people suffering from these mood disorders. Consumers have shown a steadily-increasing interest in herbal remedies in the previous decades, so it’s a natural conclusion that they will be looking for naturally-derived remedies for stress. One of the ingredients set to take center stage in this is saffron.

Saffron, a safe and effective solution

Saffron (crocus sativus) is a traditional herbal medication derived from the stigma and style of the autumn crocus flower. It’s been used as a medicinal treatment for over 3,600 years and has been recognized as being as effective for the treatment of depression as imipramine or fluoxetine.

However, unlike the pharmaceutical drugs, there were no severe adverse side effects reported with saffron usage. Positive effects in trial participants were noted in as little as one week, on a dosage of 30mg daily, although full effects were usually demonstrated with a minimum of two weeks of usage.

Saffron kills COVID19

Recently, saffron and its compounds were used to treat different viral diseases. Saffron extract and its major ingredients have shown antiviral effects. In this study, the steered molecular dynamics simulation was used for investigating the effect of four main components of saffron that include: crocin, crocetin, safranal, and picrocrocin as candidate for drug molecules, on COVID-19.

The binding energies between drug molecules and spike protein and the main protease of the virus were evaluated. The obtained results based on Lennard-Jones and electrostatic potentials demonstrated that crocetin has a high affinity towards spike protein and also the main protease of the virus. Also, the quantum mechanics calculations elucidated that the crocetin could overcome energy barrier of lipid bilayer with strong dipole moment and polarizability. The pharmacokinetic and ADMET properties proved that crocetin could be a suitable drug candidate. So, crocetin could be a promising drug for treatment of COVID-19.

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What are the effects of saffron?

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Saffron is a spice of Crocus sativus (Saffron crocus) which belongs to the family of iridaceae1 and studies has advocates its role in diseases cure. Its health management properties have been discussed in traditional prescriptions including Chinese, Ayurveda and Unani medicines. Different plant parts like peels, fruits, seeds and rind of Crocus sativus contain various biochemically active ingredients such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal in different proportion. These constituents have demonstrated the health promoting effect through the modulation of various biological and physiological processes Earlier studies reported that saffron is safe at various doses and did not show any severe side effects.

Chief ingredients of saffron

Saffron stigma is mixture of various components and such constituents have therapeutics importance in the health management through the modulation of various biological pathways. It contain numerous volatile compounds and ingredients including crocin, picrocrocin and safranal and these compounds are accountable for color, taste and odor of saffron respectively. Safranal is the major coloring constituent of saffron, so saffron is used as a flavoring and coloring agent. In addition to these compounds, saffron also contains little amounts of other pigments like anthocyanin, α-carotene, β- carotene, and zegxantin.

Possible mechanism of action of saffron and its ingredient in diseases prevention

The exact mechanism by which saffron and its constituents demonstrate the therapeutic role in diseases prevention is yet to be fully elucidated. Laboratory based research has revealed that saffron constituents modulate the activity of various enzymes involved in free radical scavenging. Moreover, these components reduce the lipid peroxidation and enhance the antioxidant status. Stigma ethanolic fraction of saffron showed the highest antioxidant activity that might be recognized due to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids.

Anti-tumour activity

It is very well known that medicinal plants such as curcumin, ginger, carica papaya and black seed have therapeutic role in the management of numerous diseases including tumour. Saffron and its active constituents perform an important role in the inhibition of tumour development and progression Table 2.

These days the popularity of alternative medicines based treatment is gaining much interest in the health practice. Saffron has shown its role in disease prevention and treatment and its importance in disease cure have been documented. Moreover, it is believed to be a safe and its adverse effect was not noticed at various doses.

The role of saffron including crocin and crocetin in the management of numerous diseases has proven via modulation of various physiological and biochemical pathways. Saffron has also been reported to exhibit an anti-tumour effect through inactivation or activation of different molecular cascades.

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what is the highest quality saffron?

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Saffron is basically considered as a spice which is derived from a flower whose scientific name is Crocus Sativus. It is a delicate purple coloured flower whose stigmas are dried to extract the spice. It is cultivated once in a year. saffron has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning, fragrance, dye, and medicine. The stigmas of the flower are harvested and processed by hand which is very labor intensive and the reason why Saffron is considered the world’s most expensive spice.

High-quality saffron comes from the regions of the world where saffron grows naturally. This is why Persian Saffron  is always high on the list. There are different types of saffron. The highest quality saffron is all red saffron and a subtype called negin grade saffron. The latter is considered to be premium quality saffron where the threads form a red cluster. A lot of work and skills are needed to produce negin saffron.

 

Every serious saffron manufacturer states the type and grade of saffron. If you see that the saffron threads have yellow-white ends, it means that the manufacturer is trying to add some weight. These parts of the stigma are still aromatic but they don’t add any color.

 

The Right Climate for Cultivation 

The best saffron is cultivated in countries with a suitable climate for the saffron flower to grow. The latter likes cold, wet winters, hot summers, and sandy soil. Saffron grows well in such counties as Iran, India, Afghanistan, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Morocco, etc.

Perfectly Dried Saffron

High-quality saffron is perfectly dried saffron. After harvesting, saffron threads should be dried to the perfect degree. They shouldn’t be moist but shouldn’t be roasted either. Once dried, saffron should be properly packaged and stored. Hardly will you find high-quality saffron sold in an ordinary plastic spice jar.

 

How to Test the Quality of Saffron?

Not all saffron brands sell high-quality saffron. As there are brands on the market that sell fake saffron, it is best to buy it from trusted manufacturers. If you have already bought saffron, here is how to tell if it is real high-quality saffron or not.

  • Smell it. Fake saffron doesn’t have a distinct smell. Real saffron, on the other hand, has a unique aroma with sweet notes. It also smells somewhat musky and floral.
  • Taste it. Although saffron is a very aromatic spice, it doesn’t have a distinct taste. It is slightly sweet, floral, and bitter all at the same time. If your saffron tastes overly sweet or metallic, it is either fake or very low-quality.

 

Is Saffron good for depression?

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Depression and anxiety are two common mental health problems with high economic and social costs. Currently, a number of treatments are available for patients with depression and anxiety disorders such as psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and antidepressant drugs. Read more

Is Saffron good for liver cancer?

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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.

What is liver Cancer?

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.

 

Is Saffron good for cancer patient?

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 saffron Stigma?

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Saffron is the most expensive and the only agriculture product that is sold by the weight of per gram, it has its own importance among agriculture products, its importance is due to its limited need to water, once harvested it can be cultivated from five to seven years, can be harvested infertile land, can easily […]

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How is the market saffron in Africa?

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Saffron is a spice derived from the extraction of the stigmas of the crocus sativus or autumn crocus flower. Once harvested, it is dried and utilized either as a dye or coloring agent for food and other products, or as a spice to add flavor to dishes. Saffron is one of the most expensive spices across the globe and has a wide application scope across myriad industries such as food & beverage and pharmaceuticals, among others.

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News: Treatment of respiratory disease with saffron
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These days, medicinal plants have received more attention than chemical drugs due to their lesser side effects. Saffron is one of these medicinal plants. Saffron has countless properties, In addition to seasoning and flavoring saffron, its medicinal properties can also be used a lot.

The effect of saffron on respiratory diseases

Saffron is used to treat many disorders and diseases of the body such as vision. Respiratory diseases such as asthma are also one of the cases that saffron improves.

Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes multiple respiratory attacks, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, especially in the early days and midnight. One of the substances that is effective in reducing asthma is the consumption of substances containing antioxidants. Recent research has shown that increasing the use of antioxidants is very effective in reducing the effects of asthma.

Saffron stigma as one of the known foods has many elements. A lot of studies have been performed to identify various compounds of saffron and so far about 150 active compounds have been identified in saffron, the most important of which are crocin, picrocrocin and safranal; These studies have also shown that saffron is rich in antioxidants and riboflavin. In fact, saffron is a sedative and analgesic. Saffron increases oxygen delivery to various tissues of the body and is therefore anti-inflammatory and relieves cough.