Description
Crocin/Gardenia Extract is a Gardenia extract that contains crocin I, II, and III, and crocetin, among other compounds.
Chemical Properties
Crocin[42553-65-1] is a reddish brown needle-like crystal. Slightly odor. Easily soluble in hot water, becomes the orange solution. Slightly soluble in anhydrous ethanol, ether, and other organic solvents. Insoluble in oil. The aqueous solution is weakly acidic or neutral transparent bright yellow, with a maximum absorption wavelength of 442nm. color is almost unaffected by pH value. Light and heat resistance is good in neutral or alkaline, and poor in acidic. Metal ion resistance (except iron, blackened by iron) is good. The coloring of protein is better than that of starch and is not affected by pH (pH4-10).
Uses
Crocin, is a natural carotenoid derived the flowers crocus and gardenia. Crocin has been shown to be a potent antioxidant. It has also been shown to have an antiproliferative action against cancer cells in vitro, and also possessing possible antidepressant properties.
Definition
ChEBI: Crocin-1 is a diester that is crocetin in which both of the carboxy groups have been converted to their gentiobiosyl esters. It is one of the water-soluble yellow-red pigments of saffron and is used as a spice for flavouring and colouring food. Note that in India, the term 'Crocin' is also used by GlaxoSmithKline as a brand-name for paracetamol. It has a role as an antioxidant, a food colouring, a plant metabolite and a histological dye. It is a diester, a disaccharide derivative and a diterpenoid. It is functionally related to a beta-D-gentiobiosyl crocetin and a gentiobiose.
General Description
A highly unsaturared diterpene dicarboxylic acid ester found in saffron.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Crocin alleviates some ethanol-induced impairments of learning and prevents ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that may underly learning and memory. Related CNS effects are specific to the digentiobiose ester; crocetin glucose gentiobiose ester is half as potent, and the diglucose ester has no effect at all.
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