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E-Book 3rd Congress

  • Effect of Saffron Supplementation on Plasma Proteome of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
  • Parisa Rahimi,1,* Saeid Abedimanesh,2 Seyedeh Zahra Bathaie,3
    1. Tarbiat Modares University
    2. Tarbiat Modares University
    3. Tarbiat Modares University


  • Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a prevalent cause of mortality worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) being one of its most prominent manifestations. As such, there is an ongoing exploration of novel interventions that can potentially prevent or inhibit the progression of CAD. Recent research has focused on the potential benefits of Saffron aqua extract supplementation in this regard. However, the exact mechanism of action of saffron in CAD remains unclear, and protein components may be involved. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to investigate the expressive changes in the plasma proteome profiles of CAD patients who received Saffron supplements.
  • Methods: This study presents the results of an eight-week clinical trial conducted on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were overweight or obese (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) and aged between 40-65 years. The trial was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, with fifty participants allocated to the Saffron and Placebo groups. Throughout the trial, the Saffron group received 60 capsules of Saffron aqueous extract (SAE) (30 mg), while the Placebo group received a placebo. Participants were instructed to take one capsule per day (after lunch) for 60 days. It is worth noting that all patients continued their current treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD) during the trial period. In this study, all patients, investigators, and laboratory analyzers were unaware of the study arms and intervention types. Following a 12-hour fasting period, plasma samples were collected from the patients and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein spots with an absolute difference of approximately two-fold were identified, predicted by bioinformatics databases and 2D Expasy gels.
  • Results: Results indicate significant differences in the expression levels of specific plasma proteins upon consumption of Saffron extract supplements. Notably, proteins such as Antithrombin-III, Haptoglobin, Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, Transthyretin, Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, and Apolipoprotein C-II and E exhibited two-fold expression changes. However, to obtain more reliable results, further analysis using techniques such as mass spectrometry or western blotting is necessary.
  • Conclusion: In conclusion, it appears that saffron extract supplements possess significant anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and have been shown to improve the lipid profile in individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, given the complex mechanisms behind these effects, further proteomic research must be undertaken to identify the target protein of Saffron that may be involved in the prevention and treatment of CVD.
  • Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, Saffron, Proteomics, 2-D Electrophoresis.