title: The Effect of Safranal on Th1/Th2 Cytokine Balance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several biological and medical benefits of Saffron, Crocus sativus (Iridaceae), have been demonstrated. However, mechanisms of actions for purified constituents are greatly unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of Safranal, a main constituent of Saffron stigma, on cell viability and cytokine profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of Safranal at 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM concentrations were evaluated on cell viability and production of interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) from non-stimulated and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated PBMCs, compared to 0.1 mM dexamethasone and saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In stimulated cells, different concentrations of Safranal caused significant decrease of lymphocytes viability (p<0.001 for all concentrations). All concentrations of Safranal inhibited IFN-γ and IL-10 secretion in stimulated cells (p<0.01). In addition, higher concentrations of Safranal significantly decreased cell viability of non-stimulated PBMCs (p<0.001). The effect of 1 mM Safranal on IL-4 secretion was less than dexamethasone (p<0.05). Safranal showed a stimulatory effect on IFN-γ secretion in non-stimulated cells. The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio at the presence of two higher Safranal concentrations both in non-stimulated and stimulated cells were significantly higher than those of control and PHA stimulated groups, respectively (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio increases in the presence of Safranal which indicates an effect on Th1/Th2 balance. Therefore, Safranal may have therapeutic effects in inflammatory diseases associated with Th1/Th2 imbalance.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feyzi
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
authors.forename: Seyedeh Masoumeh
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Seyedhosseini Tamijani
authors.forename: Houshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafatpanah
authors.forename: Seyed Abdolrahim
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rezaei
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; C087963:safranal; D003907:Dexamethasone