AUTHOR=Guo Zi-Liang , Li Mao-Xing , Li Xiao-Lin , Wang Peng , Wang Wei-Gang , Du Wei-Ze , Yang Zhi-Qiang , Chen Sheng-Fu , Wu Di , Tian Xiu-Yu 

TITLE=Crocetin: A Systematic Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.745683

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.745683

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Crocetin is an aglycone of crocin naturally occurring in saffron, which is produced in biological system by hydrolysis of crocin as a bioactive metabolite. It exists in many medicinal plants, the desiccative ripe fruit of the cape jasmine belonging to Rubiaceae family and stigmas of the saffron plant of the Iridaceae family. Modern pharmacology indicates that crocetin possesses cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-depressant, anti-viral, anti-cancer, atherosclerotic, anti-diabetics, memory enhancer properties. Even though the poor bioavailability of crocetin makes it difficult to achieve their therapeutic applications, derivatization and formulations preparation technologies have broadened the application prospect for crocetin.
In order to promote the research and development of crocetin, we will summarize the distribution, preparation and production, total synthesis and derivatization technology, pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetics, drug safety, drug formulations and preparation research of crocetin.