από την Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Κοζάνης

Την έγκριση των όρων προγραμματικής σύμβασης για το έργο

«Ανάπτυξη μεθόδων αντιμετώπισης παθογόνων του κρόκου Crocus sativus L. και εύρεση ανθεκτικότητας του γενετικού υλικού του κρόκου στα παθογόνα αυτά»,

εισηγήθηκε η αντιπεριφερειάρχης Κοζάνης Κατερίνα Δαδαμόγια, την Τετάρτη 28 Δεκεμβρίου 2022 στην Οικονομική Επιτροπή της Π.Δ.Μ.

Η προγραμματική σύμβαση είναι συνολικού προϋπολογισμού 70.000 ευρώ και θα υπογραφεί μεταξύ της Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Μακεδονίας και του ΕΛΚΕ του Πανεπιστημίου Δυτικής Μακεδονίας.

Η συνεργασία αυτή, στην οποία συμμετέχει και ο Αναγκαστικός Συνεταιρισμός Κροκοπαραγωγών, παρουσιάζει μεγάλο επιστημονικό ενδιαφέρον καθώς θα διερευνήσει τα κυριότερα παθογόνα που προσβάλλουν το φυτό του κρόκου και οδηγούν σε μείωση παραγωγής και σε οικονομικές απώλειες για τους παραγωγούς.

Στοχεύει παράλληλα και στο άμεσο όφελος για τους παραγωγούς, αφού θα διερευνηθούν τρόποι αντιμετώπισης των ασθενειών ώστε να είναι εφαρμόσιμες από τους ίδιους τους καλλιεργητές.

Απώτερος στόχος είναι να εντοπιστούν ανθεκτικά στελέχη φυτών ώστε να επιλέγονται αυτά από τους καλλιεργητές και να εξαλειφθούν σταδιακά οι εν λόγω ασθένειες, χωρίς να απαιτείται μελλοντικά επιπλέον κόστος αντιμετώπισης.

Οι υποδομές και η τεχνογνωσία του Εργαστηρίου Γεωπονικής του Πανεπιστημίου Δυτικής Μακεδονίας εγγυώνται άρτια συλλογή δειγμάτων και μεθοδολογία ανάλυσης ώστε να αξιοποιηθεί κάθε διαθέσιμο δεδομένο προς όφελος των παραγωγών.

Πρόκειται για μια καλλιέργεια ορόσημο για την περιοχή μας, την οποία έχουμε χρέος να προασπίσουμε και να αναπτύξουμε αξιοποιώντας κάθε δυνατότητα που μας δίνει η σύγχρονη επιστήμη.

Με την έρευνα αυτή ικανοποιείται ένα πάγιο αίτημα των κροκοπαραγωγών ώστε να διερευνηθούν οι αιτίες των απωλειών τους με τρόπο συστηματικό και μεθοδικό.

The post Χρηματοδότηση έρευνας για ασθένειες του κρόκου appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

The effects of carotenoids of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on cell proliferation and differentiation of HL-60 cells have been studied and compared with those of all-trans retinoic acid.

Our results demonstrated that the doses inducing 50% inhibition of cell growth were 0.12 microM for all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and for carotenoids of saffron 0.8 microM for dimethylcrocetin (DMCRT), 2 microM for crocetin CRT and 2 microM for crocins (CRCs).

At 5 microM, all these compounds induced differentiation of HL-60 cells, at 85% for ATRA, 70% for DMCRT, 50% for CRT and 48% for CRCs.

In these experiments, leukemic cells were cultured for 5 days in the absence or in the presence of up to 5 microM ATRA or seminatural and natural carotenoids.

Since retinoids have a potential application as chemopreventive agents in humans, their toxicity as an important limiting factor for their use in treatment should be extensively explored.

The seminatural (DMCRT and CRT) and natural carotenoids (CRCs) of Crocus sativus L. are not provitamin A precursors and could therefore be less toxic than retinoids, even at high doses.

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Inhibition of Growth and Induction of Differentiation of Promyelocytic Leukemia (HL-60) by Carotenoids From Crocus Sativus L

The post Inhibition of Growth of Promyelocytic Leukemia appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Crocetin, a carotenoid isolated from the spice saffron, has been found to be effective in treating certain types of cancer treatable with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA).

ATRA, however, is a potent teratogen, and the possibility that crocetin may also be a teratogen becomes an important medical issue.

The teratogenic potential of crocetin and ATRA were evaluated in frog (Xenopus) embryos.

The data show that crocetin is a teratogen, but far less potent than ATRA.

This suggests that crocetin may be a safer alternative to treat ATRA-sensitive cancers in women of childbearing age.

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Evaluation of the Developmental Toxicity of Crocetin on Xenopus

The post Evaluation of the Developmental Toxicity of Crocetin on Xenopus appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Radical scavenging activity is involved in aging processes, antiinflammatory, anticancer and wound healing activity.

Hence, in the present study the DPPH radical scavenging activity of a natural product that possesses biological properties, an extract of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), grown in Crocos, Kozani (Greece), and some of its bioactive constituents (crocin, safranal) was studied.

It was shown that a methanol extract of Crocus sativus exhibited high antioxidant activity, although it contains several active and inactive constituents.

In trying to approximate a structure-activity relationship, two bioactive constituents of saffron extract were tested, namely crocin and safranal.

Crocin showed high radical scavenging activity (50% and 65% for 500 and 1000 ppm solution in methanol, respectively), followed by safranal (34% for 500 ppm solution).

All the tested samples showed high radical scavenging activity, probably due to the ability to donate a hydrogen atom to the DPPH radical.

Thus, saffron grown in Greece can be used promisingly in functional foods, drinks with antioxidant activity, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations for their antioxidant activity and probably for their antiaging activity.

Saffron can also be used internally in the form of powder or other pharmacotechnical formulae as a food supplement with antioxidant properties.

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Radical scavenging activity of Crocus sativus L. Extract and its bioactive constituents

The post Radical scavenging activity of Crocus sativus L. Extract and its bioactive constituents appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

Crocus sativus stigmas are one of the widely known spices (saffron) and consist of unusually polar carotenoids.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized pathologically by deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) fibrils. Oxidation is thought to promote Abeta fibril formation and deposition.

To identify agents inhibiting the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, we examined in vitro the antioxidant properties of extract of C. sativus stigmas and its effect on Abeta(1-40) fibrillogenesis.

The antioxidant properties were determined by measuring the ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, while its effects on Abeta-aggregation and fibrillogenesis were studied by thioflavine T-based fluorescence assay and by DNA binding shift assay.

The water:methanol (50:50, v/v) extract of C. sativus stigmas possesses good antioxidant properties, higher than those of tomatoes and carrots, and inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis in a concentration and time-dependent manner.

The main carotenoid constituent, trans-crocin-4, the digentibiosyl ester of crocetin, inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis at lower concentrations than dimethylcrocetin, revealing that the action of the carotenoid is enhanced by the presence of the sugars.

Our findings suggest the possible use of C. sativus stigma constituents for inhibition of aggregation and deposition of Abeta in the human brain.

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Inhibitory Activity on Amyloid-?? Aggregation and Antioxidant Properties of Crocus sativus Stigmas Extract and Its Crocin Constituents

The post Inhibitory Activity on Amyloid appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

Crocus sativus stigmas are one of the widely known spices (saffron) and consist of unusually polar carotenoids.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized pathologically by deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) fibrils.

Oxidation is thought to promote Abeta fibril formation and deposition.

To identify agents inhibiting the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, we examined in vitro the antioxidant properties of extract of C. sativus stigmas and its effect on Abeta(1-40) fibrillogenesis.

The antioxidant properties were determined by measuring the ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, while its effects on Abeta-aggregation and fibrillogenesis were studied by thioflavine T-based fluorescence assay and by DNA binding shift assay.

The water:methanol (50:50, v/v) extract of C. sativus stigmas possesses good antioxidant properties, higher than those of tomatoes and carrots, and inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis in a concentration and time-dependent manner.

The main carotenoid constituent, trans-crocin-4, the digentibiosyl ester of crocetin, inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis at lower concentrations than dimethylcrocetin, revealing that the action of the carotenoid is enhanced by the presence of the sugars.

Our findings suggest the possible use of C. sativus stigma constituents for inhibition of aggregation and deposition of Abeta in the human brain.

Read More

Inhibitory Activity on Amyloid-Beta Aggregation and Antioxidant Properties of Crocus Sativus Stigmas Extract and Its Crocin Constituents

The post Inhibitory Activity on Amyloid-Beta Aggregation and Antioxidant Properties appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Saffron (stigmata of Crocus sativus L.) has been used for medicinal purposes for millennia.

Throughout history, uses against cancer and depressive mood can regularly be identified.

These applications have also been in the focus of modern research.

Promising and selective anti-cancer effects have been observed in vitro and in vivo, but not yet in clinical trials.

Antidepressant effects were found in vivo and in clinical pilot studies.

Saffron extracts thus have the potential to make a major contribution to rational phytotherapy.

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Saffron in Phytotherapy: Pharmacology and Clinical Uses

The post Saffron in Phytotherapy: Pharmacology and Clinical Uses appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

Crocus sativus L. is a plant cultivated in various parts of the world. Crocins are among the active components of Crocus sativus L.

The present study was designed to investigate in the rat whether or not crocins possess anxiolytic properties.

For this aim, the light/dark test was selected.

Either crocins, at a dose which did not influence animals’ motor activity (50mg/kg), or diazepam (1.5 mg/kg), significantly increased the latency to enter the dark compartment and prolonged the time spent in the lit chamber in the rats.

Conversely, lower doses of crocins (15-30 mg/kg) did not substantially modify animals’ behaviour.

The present results indicate that treatment with these active constituents of Crocus sativus L. induce anxiolytic-like effects in the rat.

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Effects of the active constituents of Crocus sativus L., crocins, in an animal model of anxiety

The post Effects in an animal model of anxiety appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

The known properties of saffron (Crocus sativus, L.) and its components have been examined.

Recently, hormone like effects in green algae and the anti-cancerogenic and anti-toxic effects, have been observed. In particular, the effects of crocetin, a carotenoids (8,8′-diapo-8,8′-carotenoic acid) present in saffron and characterized by a diterpenic and symmetrical structure with seven double bonds and four methyl groups, have been taken into consideration.

It has been found that this compound enhances the oxygen diffusivity through liquids, such as plasma.

As a consequence of this property, it has been observed that crocetin increases alveolar oxygen transport and enhances pulmonary oxygenation.

It improves cerebral oxygenation in hemorrhaged rats and positively acts in the atherosclerosis and arthritis treatment.

It inhibits skin tumor promotion in mice (i.e., with benzo(a)pyrene); it has an inhibitory effect on intracellular nucleic acid and protein synthesis in malignant cells, as well as on protein-kinase-C and prorooncogene in INNIH/3T3 cells.

This is most likely due to its anti-oxidant activity.

Furthermore, crocetin protects against oxidative damage in rat primary hepatocytes.

It also suppresses aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxic lesions and has a modulatory effect on aflatoxin, B1 cytotoxicity, and DNA adduct formation on C3H10/T1/2 fibroblast cells.

It also has a protective effect on the bladder toxicity, induced by cyclophosphamide.

The experiments reported in the scientific literature and the interesting results obtained have been carried out in vitro or on laboratory animals, but not yet on man.

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Crocetin From Saffron: An Active Component of an Ancient Spice

The post Crocetin An Active Component appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.

Abstract

Rationale:

The expensive spice saffron originating from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L. and also applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a complex mixture of glycoconjugates varying not only in the aglycon structure, but also in glycosylation pattern. Therefore, various tandem mass spectrometric techniques were evaluated for their usefulness in structural elucidation.

Methods:

Three selected constituents of the stigmas of Crocus sativus L., trans- and cis-crocin-4 as well as picrocrocin, were isolated and purified by HPLC and finally analyzed by ESI-MS (ion trap, QqRTOF), IP-MALDI-MS (QqRTOF) and vMALDI-MS (TOF/RTOF) in combination with tandem mass spectrometry in collision energy regimes ranging from a few eV (LE) to 20 keV (HE) collisions for the first time. These data aid in structurally elucidating minor, unknown glycoconjugates originating from this plant-derived spice.

Results:

LE-CID of isomeric crocins on either an ion trap with ESI or a QqRTOF-instrument with ESI or IP-MALDI as desorption/ionization technique only yielded a limited number of structurally diagnostic sodiated product ions related to the carbohydrate moiety as well as to the intact aglycon in contrast to true HE-CID. The low MW constituent picrocrocin did not yield useful LE-CID spectra, but showed a high number of structurally diagnostic product ions by HE-CID utilizing a vMALDI TOF/RTOF-instrument.

Conclusions:

The highest number of structurally diagnostic product ions allowing also determination of the carbohydrate linkage of the gentiobiose-moiety of isomeric crocins ((0,4)A(2), (3,5)A(2) product ions indicating a 1→6 carbohydrate linkage) was only achievable by HE-CID. Fragmentation of the aglycon was not observed by any collision energy regime applied.

Comparison of Different Tandem Mass Spectrometric Techniques (ESI-IT, ESI- And IP-MALDI-QRTOF and vMALDI-TOF/RTOF) for the Analysis of Crocins and Picrocrocin From the Stigmas of Crocus Sativus L

The post Analysis of Crocins and Picrocrocin appeared first on Krokos Kozanis.