Nutraceutical and cosmetic applications of bioactive compounds of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) stigmas and its by-products

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.), is the most expensive spice in the world, derived from the red filaments (stigmas) of a sterile triploid geophyte plant that belongs to the Iridaceae family. Saffron stigmas have been traditionally used in food and cosmetic products due to their coloring, flavoring, and aromatic aspects, attributed to their bioactive compounds, namely crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal. After harvesting saffron stigmas, a considerable amount of saffron floral parts so-called by-products are generated: petals, leaves, stamens, and others. Recent scientific studies have focused on cosmetic, therapeutic, and nutraceutical applications of not only saffron stigmas but also their several floral by-products. The chemical compounds contained in the whole saffron flower such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, are endowed with excellent potentialities like antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities which makes them strongly used in food and cosmetic products. This paper aims to provide a systematic overview of specialized (secondary) metabolites applications of saffron stigmas as well as its by-products in various fields, also, the mechanisms of action of saffron bioactive compounds activities have been explained in this paper.