Stigma Croci: An Overview

Stigma Croci refers to Crocus sativus L. dry stigma. This plant belongs to the Iridaceae family. The plant is spreading widely in southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Stigma Croci is known as Crocus hispanicus, Crocus orientalis, Crocus, and dye saffron. The powdered Stigma Croci is orange or red in color. The dried Stigma Croci odor is characteristic and aromatic. The major constituents of Stigma Croci are picrocrocin, safranal, and crocins. Stigma Croci is used as a tonic, antiarteriosclerotic, and relaxing factor. Stigma Croci has been used for centuries to stimulate the female menstrual cycle and treat menstrual cycle stop, coughs, digestive ailments, abdominal pain, fever, depression, and pain associated with wounds. Stigma Croci is used in folklore medicine as an aphrodisiac, contraceptive, diaphoretic, appetite stimulant, and nerve relaxing agent. Pharmacology of Stigma Croci includes experimental pharmacology and clinical pharmacology. Experimental pharmacology includes antiarteriosclerotic, anticoagulant, cell proliferation inhibition, central nervous system, chemical carcinogenesis inhibition, circulation, anti-inflammatory, nootropic, and cytotoxicity activities. The lethal dose of fifty of Stigma Croci is equal to 20.7 g/kg bw in rats while the LD50 of ethanol extract of Stigma Croci = > 600 mg/kg bw in mice. The extracts of Stigma Croci were not mutagenic. Platelet accumulation is inhibited by Stigma Croci. The intake of dimethylcrocetin constituent of Stigma Croci in animals did not exhibit hematological or biochemical toxic effects after intra-gastric injection up to 50 mg/kg bw. Stigma Croci is occurred in 2 forms (the dried stigmas and extracts). No risk is associated with consumption of Stigma Croci in a standard food and the recommended therapeutic daily dose of Stigma Croci = 3-9g.