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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 13
| Issue : 1 | Page : 105 |
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Liposomal saffron: A promising natural therapeutic and immune-boosting agent
Raziyeh Jamalifard1, Seyedeh Narges Jamali2, Sepideh Khorasani3, Iman Katouzian4, MilintNeleptchenko Wintrasiri5, MR Mozafari6
1 Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
3 Department Food Science and Technology, Faculty Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
4 Department of Nanotechnology, Australasian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (ANNI), 8054 Monash University LPO, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
5 Department of Nanotechnology, Supreme NanoBiotics Co. Ltd. and Supreme Pharmatech Co. Ltd., Rachateva, A. Bangplee, Samutprakan, Thailand
6 Department of Nanotechnology, Australasian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (ANNI), 8054 Monash University LPO, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nanotechnology, Supreme NanoBiotics Co. Ltd. and Supreme Pharmatech Co. Ltd., Rachateva, A. Bangplee, Samutprakan, Thailand
| Date of Submission | 15-Jun-2021 |
| Date of Acceptance | 02-Dec-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 08-Aug-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
M R Mozafari
Australasian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (ANNI), 8054 Monash University LPO, Clayton, Victoria 3168
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_268_21
How to cite this article:
Jamalifard R, Jamali SN, Khorasani S, Katouzian I, Wintrasiri M, Mozafari M R. Liposomal saffron: A promising natural therapeutic and immune-boosting agent. Int J Prev Med 2022;13:105 |
How to cite this URL:
Jamalifard R, Jamali SN, Khorasani S, Katouzian I, Wintrasiri M, Mozafari M R. Liposomal saffron: A promising natural therapeutic and immune-boosting agent. Int J Prev Med [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 2];13:105. Available from: https://www.ijpvmjournal.net/text.asp?2022/13/1/105/353567 |
Saffron is the commercial name of the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus flower, commonly known as the “saffron crocus.” The colorful crimson stigma and styles (called threads) are collected and dried for use, generally as an aromatic seasoning and coloring agent in food. The main ingredients of saffron include crocin, safranal, picrocrocin, and crocetin which are primarily recognized for their antioxidant and therapeutic properties. These bioactive compounds possess various therapeutic and organoleptic properties, which are as follows: (i) they are powerful antioxidants, (ii) promote digestion, (iii) improve mood and treat depressive symptoms, (iv) have cancer-fighting properties, (v) reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, (vi) act as aphrodisiac, (vii) reduce appetite and aid weight loss, (viii) boost immune system, and (ix) improve eye sight. Moreover, nanoencapsulation of these bioactive ingredients is a novel platform to boost the therapeutic efficiency and inhibit degradation of saffron bioactive compounds.[1],[2] Human cultivation and application of saffron dates back to more than 3500 years. Although some doubts remain on its origin, it is suggested that saffron originated in Iran, nonetheless, Greece and Mesopotamia have also been suggested as the possible origins of this plant.[3] Saffron flowers, stigma, and filaments are being used as medicinal ingredients for a long time. To illustrate this, the abortive action of the ingredients of saffron was well known in the middle ages, during which it was also used by midwives in deliveries for the sedative and antispasmodic properties of the plant.[4] Besides, it has been employed to treat eye diseases, heal wounds, fractures, and joint pains and for many other uses, leading to Pliny the Elder describing it as a kind of panacea in his Naturae Historiarum XXXVII.[4] Saffron bioactive components have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis activities in clinical trials.[5] Furthermore, it is reported that saffron bioactive compounds are effective against suppression of tumor cells.[6] With the emergence of COVID-19, the production of immune-boosting supplements has increased significantly. Interestingly, it is reported that crocetin has a high affinity toward spike protein of COVID-19 virus (the main polypeptide of the virus), thus can hinder the access of the virus to the cell receptor.[5] Due to the low stability and sensitivity of the saffron bioactive ingredients, the encapsulation technology has surmounted this grave problem. In short, encapsulation comprises a shell to protect particular ingredient(s) and to prevent them from leaching out before reaching the target site.[7],[8] Accordingly, one of the interesting technologies for encapsulation purposes are liposomes and its derivatives including nanoliposomes, tocosomes, and solid-lipid-nanoparticles, which are affordable, stable, and simply produced.[9],[10] Encapsulated saffron ingredients, using emulsions, liposomes, or their derivatives, are promising candidates for the production of food supplements and immune-boosting products, which has captured the attention of both industry and academia, particularly in the pandemic era.[11],[12] Balanced and healthy food along with dietary supplements are extremely important in decreasing the rates of mortality and morbidity associated with viral and other diseases such as cancer. It is well known that dietary supplements and nutraceuticals play a very important role in the preventive as well as curative aspects of viral and nonviral diseases.[13] Conventional manufacture of lipidic encapsulation systems required use of potentially toxic solvents (e.g., chloroform, methanol, and diethyl ether). Thanks to recent progress in the field of encapsulation, these lipidic systems can now be manufactured, without utilization of toxic solvents or detergents, on large scales. Examples of such methods include the “heating method”[14] and “Mozafari method.”[15] Loading saffron to liposomes or nanoliposomes using Mozafari method can be accomplished through the following three steps:
- Adding capsule ingredients to a preheated (60°C) mixture of saffron and a cosolvent such as glycerol, sorbitol, or propylene glycol (final concentration 3%, v/v) in a heat resistant vessel.
- Heating the mixture at 60°C while stirring (e.g., 1000 rpm) for a period of 45 to 60 min under an inert atmosphere (e.g., using nitrogen gas).
- Following preparation of the formulation, it must be kept at temperatures above phase transition temperature of the phospholipid ingredients (Tc) under an inert atmosphere for 1 h to allow the vesicles to anneal and stabilize [Figure 1].[15]
 | Figure 1: Schematic representation of simple and green-tech methodology of liposomal encapsulation of saffron active molecules and its benefits
Click here to view |
Last but not least, the green nature of both saffron and liposomes makes them attractive candidates for application as edible products and undoubtedly soon the market of this high-tech product will grow remarkably.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Hadavi R, Jafari SM, Katouzian I. Nanoliposomal encapsulation of saffron bioactive compounds; characterization and optimization. Int J Biol Macromol2020;164:4046-53.  |
| 2. | Vanaei S, Parizi MS, Abdolhosseini S, Katouzian I. Spectroscopic, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies on the complexes of β-lactoglobulin, safranal and oleuropein. Int J Biol Macromol2020;165:2326-37. |
| 3. | Kafi M, Kamili AN, Husaini AM, Ozturk M, Altay V. An expensive spice saffron (Crocus sativus L.): A case study from Kashmir, Iran, and Turkey. In: Global Perspectives on Underutilized Crops. Springer; Cham; 2018. p. 109-49. |
| 4. | José Bagur M, Alonso Salinas GL, Jiménez-Monreal AM, Chaouqi S, Llorens S, Martínez-Tomé M, et al. Saffron: An old medicinal plant and a potential novel functional food.Molecules 2018;23:30. |
| 5. | Kordzadeh A, Saadatabadi AR, Hadi A. Investigation on penetration of saffron components through lipid bilayer bound to spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 using steered molecular dynamics simulation. Heliyon 2020;6:e05681. |
| 6. | Chen D, Xing B, Yi H, Li Y, Zheng B, Wang Y, et al. Effects of different drying methods on appearance, microstructure, bioactive compounds and aroma compounds of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). LWT 2020;120:108913. |
| 7. | Akhavan S, Assadpour E, Katouzian I, Jafari SM. Lipid nano scale cargos for the protection and delivery of food bioactive ingredients and nutraceuticals. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2018;74:132-46. |
| 8. | Katouzian I, Jafari SM. Nano-encapsulation as a promising approach for targeted delivery and controlled release of vitamins. Trends in Food Science and Technology 2016;53:34-48. |
| 9. | Mozafari MR, Torkaman S, Karamouzian FM, Rasti B, Baral B. Antimicrobial applications of nanoliposome encapsulated silver nanoparticles: A potential strategy to overcome bacterial resistance. Current Nanosc 2021;17:26-40. |
| 10. | Zarrabi A, AlipoorAmro Abadi M, Khorasani S, Mohammadabadi M, Jamshidi A, Torkaman S, et al. Nanoliposomes and tocosomes as multifunctional nanocarriers for the encapsulation of nutraceutical and dietary molecules. Molecules 2020;25:638. |
| 11. | Louca P, Murray B, Klaser K, Graham MS, Mazidi M, Leeming ER, et al. Modest effects of dietary supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from 445 850 users of the COVID-19 symptom study app.BMJNutr Prev Health 2021;4:149-57. |
| 12. | Ogundijo DA, Tas AA, Onarinde BA. Exploring the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on eating and purchasing behaviours of people living in England. Nutrients 2021;13:1499. |
| 13. | Hosseini F, Bahramimeimandi B, Raoufi E, Mozafari MR. Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A liposomal functional food approach.Int J Prev Med2021;12:26. [Full text] |
| 14. | Jahadi M, Khosravi-Darani K, Ehsani MR, Mozafari MR, Saboury AA, Pourhosseini PS. The encapsulation of flavourzyme in nanoliposome by heating method. J Food Sci Technol 2015;52:2063-72. |
| 15. | Rasti B, Jinap S, Mozafari MR, Abd-Manap MY. Optimization on preparation condition of polyunsaturated fatty acids nanoliposome prepared by Mozafari method.J Liposome Res 2014;24:99-105. |
[Figure 1]
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