Safflower
The genus Carthamus comprises fourteen annual and a few perennial herbs native to Asia and the Mediterranean region. The generic name comes from Arabic and Hebrew words meaning “to paint”.
This plant can be used to replace Crocus sativus (Saffron) because of its similar therapeutic properties.
Latine name:
Carthamus tinctorius
Tibet name:
Gurkum
Parts used:
Flowers
Indigenous to the Arabian peninsula, north-west India and Islamic Republic of Iran; also found in the Mediterranean region of North Africa and in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. Widely cultivated around the world.
Analgesic activity
Antipyretic activity
Anti-inflammatory activity– inhibits cytokine production.
Anti-microbial activity– – shows to inhibit wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, Candida albicans, poliomyelitis virus type 1.
Hepatoprotective effect – reduces plasma concentration of bilirubin; prevents development of liver cirrhosis.
Cardiovascular effect – prevents development of atherosclerosis; shows to reduce ischemia and neurological damage induced by unilateral carotid artery ligation; induces vasodilation; lowers blood pressure; protects heart muscle cells from progressive loss in heart failure; shows to decrease arterial stiffness; increases coronary flow.
Platelet aggregation inhibition – shows to inhibit ADP, arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet aggregation.
Anti-hyperlipidemic activity – shows to decrease serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL.
Anti-diabetic activity – increases insulin levels; increases size of islets of Langerhans.
Wound healing effect
Effect on menstruation – used for treatment of amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
Uterine stimulant effect – shows to increase uterine contractions.
Central nervous system depressant activity
Antioxidant activity – protects from oxidative stress damage; inhibits free radical formation.
Neuroprotective activity – shows to reduce cerebral infarction area and neurological deficits, reduces expression of inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction area in acute ischemic stroke; demonstrates potential to inhibit apoptosis triggered by neurotoxic species and promote neuronal survival, thus may be used as supportive treatment in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Rejuvenation action:
Strengthens liver, gall bladder and eyes
Treats anemia
Balances blood pressure
Calms mind and relieves anxiety and panic attack
Gastrointestinal system:
Improves digestion
Relieves constipation
Stops diarrhoea
Heals ulcers
Genitourinary system:
Relieves fluid retention
Normalizes menstrual flow
Immune system and detoxification:
Relieves chest congestion and expels phlegm
Purifies blood and liver
Clears blood cholesterol
Stops haemorrhages
Clears skin infections
Lowers fever
Improves blood circulation and relieves stagnation
Reduces formation of blood clots
- WHO monograph on Flos Carthami
- Carthamus tinctorius L. ameliorates brain injury followed by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats by antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms
- Neuroprotective Effects of a Standardized Flavonoid Extract from Safflower against a Rotenone-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
- Safflower extract inhibiting apoptosis by inducing autophagy in myocardium derived H9C2 cell
- Antidiabetic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Carthamus tinctorius L. in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
- Effects of safflower seed extract on arterial stiffness.