title: Saffron extract and trans-crocetin inhibit glutamatergic synaptic transmission in rat cortical brain slices.
abstract: Saffron, the dried stigmata of Crocus sativus L., is used in traditional medicine for a wide range of indications including cramps, asthma, and depression. To investigate the influence of hydro-ethanolic saffron extract (CSE) and trans-crocetin on synaptic transmission, postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) were elicited by focal electrical stimulation and recorded using intracellular placed microelectrodes in pyramidal cells from rat cingulate cortex. CSE (10-200 μg/ml) inhibited evoked PSPs as well as the isolated NMDA and non-NMDA component of PSPs. Glutamate (500 μM) added into the organ bath induced membrane depolarization. CSE decreased glutamate-induced membrane depolarization. Additionally, CSE at 100 μg/ml decreased NMDA (20 μM) and kainate (1 μM)-induced depolarization, whereas AMPA (1 μM)-induced depolarization was not affected. Trans-crocetin (1-50 μM) showed inhibition of evoked PSPs and glutamate-induced membrane depolarization comparable to CSE. Trans-crocetin at 10 μM decreased NMDA (20 μM)-induced membrane depolarization, but did not inhibit the isolated non-NMDA component of PSPs. We conclude that trans-crocetin is involved in the antagonistic effect of CSE on NMDA but not on kainate receptors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology for Natural Sciences, University of Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hensel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000187:drug effects; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects; D055366:Synaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D014801:Vitamin A; C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate