Saponins from Saffron Corms Inhibit the Gene Expression and Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

J Nat Prod. 2021 Mar 26;84(3):630-645. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01220. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Abstract

Corms are obtained as a byproduct during the cultivation of saffron (Crocus sativus). In a project aimed at the valorization of this waste product, we observed that a 70% EtOH extract of the corms and a sugar-depleted MeOH fraction of the extract inhibited the TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced secretion and gene expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1, and RANTES in human HaCaT cells. The effects were in part stronger than those of the positive control hydrocortisone. For preparative isolation, the 70% EtOH extract was partitioned between n-BuOH and water. Separation of the n-BuOH-soluble fraction by centrifugal partition chromatography, followed by preparative and semipreparative HPLC, afforded a series of bidesmosidic glycosides of echinocystic acid bearing a 3,16-dihydroxy-10-oxo-hexadecanoic acid residue attached to the glycosidic moiety at C-28. They include azafrines 1 and 2, previously reported in saffron, and eight new congeners named azafrines 3-10. Saffron saponins significantly inhibited TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced secretion of RANTES in human HaCaT cells at 1 μM (p < 0.001). Some of them further lowered TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Crocus / chemistry*
  • Cytokines* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • HaCaT Cells
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phytochemicals / isolation & purification
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Saponins / isolation & purification
  • Saponins / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • CCL5 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Cytokines
  • IFNG protein, human
  • Phytochemicals
  • Saponins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interferon-gamma