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Smooth muscle relaxant activity of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents: possible mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Saffron, Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) is rich in carotenoids and used in traditional medicine for treatment of various conditions such as coughs, stomach disorders, amenorrhea, asthma and cardiovascular disorders. These therapeutic effects of the plant are suggested to be due to its relaxant effect on smooth muscles. The effect of C. sativus and its constituents on different smooth muscles and the underlying mechanisms have been studied. Several studies have shown the relaxant effects of C. sativus and its constituents including safranal, crocin, crocetin and kaempferol on blood vessels. In addition, it was reported that saffron stigma lowers systolic blood pressure. The present review highlights the relaxant effects of C. sativus and its constituents on various smooth muscles. The possible mechanisms of this relaxing effect including activation of ß2-adrenoceptors, inhibition of histamine H1 and muscarinic receptors and calcium channels and modulation of nitric oxide (NO) are also reviewed.

SUBMITTER: Mokhtari-Zaer A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4599118 | biostudies-other | 2015 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Smooth muscle relaxant activity of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents: possible mechanisms.

Mokhtari-Zaer Amin A Khazdair Mohammad Reza MR Boskabady Mohammad Hossein MH

Avicenna journal of phytomedicine 20150901 5

Saffron, Crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) is rich in carotenoids and used in traditional medicine for treatment of various conditions such as coughs, stomach disorders, amenorrhea, asthma and cardiovascular disorders. These therapeutic effects of the plant are suggested to be due to its relaxant effect on smooth muscles. The effect of C. sativus and its constituents on different smooth muscles and the underlying mechanisms have been studied. Several studies have shown the relaxant effects of C. sa ...[more]

PMID: 26468456

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Project description:The MaxiK potassium channel is regulated by voltage and intracellular calcium, and plays a critical role in regulating intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+) ](i)), which is the ultimate determinant of smooth muscle tone. Tight control of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) tone is critically important and misregulation can result in erectile dysfunction.Because of the tight functional linkage of MaxiK and calcium channel activity, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of silencing and pharmacological inhibition of MaxiK on calcium homeostasis and intercellular calcium signaling in CCSM cells.We compared changes in the basal intracellular [Ca(2+) ](i) and parameters defining intercellular calcium wave (ICW) spread in 48 hours MaxiK silenced CCSM cells vs. acute blockade of the channel with iberiotoxin. To analyze changes occurring in gene expression we performed micro-array analysis following MaxiK silencing for 48 hours.Changes in Fura-2 fluorescence intensities were measured to evaluate basal [Ca(2+) ](i) levels and ICW parameters. Microarray analysis of global gene expression was performed.Forty-eight hours after MaxiK silencing the basal [Ca(2+) ](i) , the ICW amplitude and spread among CCSM cells were not markedly different in silenced compared to mock transfected controls, whereas short-term blockade significantly increased basal [Ca(2+) ](i) level and amplified Ca(2+) signaling among CCSM cells. Micro-array analysis showed that several genes within Ca(2+) homeostasis and smooth muscle tone regulation pathways had significantly altered expression.Our results indicate that while short-term blockade of the MaxiK channel is associated with an increase in basal [Ca(2+) ](i), Ca(2+) homeostasis is restored during the 48 hours period following silencing. We hypothesize that the different pathways regulating [Ca(2+) ](i) and CCSM tone are linked through molecular crosstalk and that their coordinated regulation is part of a compensatory mechanism aimed to maintain Ca(2+) homeostasis and CCSM tone.

Dataset Information

Smooth muscle relaxant activity of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents: possible mechanisms.

Publications

Smooth muscle relaxant activity of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents: possible mechanisms.

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