title: Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Carthamus tinctorius L.
abstract: Carthamus tinctorius L. is a multifunctional cash crop. Its flowers and seeds are extensively used in traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries, for treating various ailments such as gynecological, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases as well as blood stasis and osteoporosis. More than 100 compounds have been isolated and identified from C. tinctorius. Flavonoids and alkaloids, especially the quinochalcone c-glycoside hydroxysafflor yellow A, N-(p-Coumaroyl)serotonin, and N-feruloylserotonin, are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of C. tinctorius. In this paper, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of C. tinctorius is presented. This information will be helpful for further explorations of the therapeutic potential of C. tinctorius and may provide future research opportunities.
authors.affiliation: * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Le-Le
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: † School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jia
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: † School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: * State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Jian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry*; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011809:Quinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011809:Quinones; C085278:hydroxysafflor yellow A; C512561:N-feruloylserotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D002599:Chalcone; C114774:N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin
keywords: Cardiovascular Protection; Carthamus tinctorius L.; Cerebrovascular Protection; Flavonoid, Hydroxysafflor Yellow A; Review