title: Antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity and metabolic profiling of juices obtained from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) floral by-products.
abstract: Juices obtained from cold-pressed saffron (Crocus sativus L.) floral by-products were evaluated as a potential source of compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Floral by-products were split in two batches for extraction 24 and 48h after flower harvesting, respectively. The in vitro anti-oxidant activity of these extracts was tested using the FRAP and DPPH assays, and two biological models of lipid oxidation (activity in preventing cholesterol degradation and protection against Cu(2+)-mediated degradation of the liposomal unsaturated fatty acids). The cytotoxic activity was evaluated using the MTT assay. The results show that extracts obtained 48h post-harvest contained higher levels of total polar phenols and had the highest antioxidant activity in all of the performed assays. The LC-DAD and LC-ESI-(HR)MS(n) metabolic profiles showed high levels of kaempferol derivatives and anthocyanins. This study suggests that juices from saffron floral by-products could potentially be used to develop new products for the food and health industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale, 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: tuberoso@unica.it.
authors.forename: Carlo I G
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tuberoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SS 554, km 4.5, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale, 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fenu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy.
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizza
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D027622:Crocus / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cholesterol degradation; Crocus sativus L.; Floral by-products; LC-DAD; LC–ESI-(HR)MS(n); LDL oxidation