Safflower—the false saffron that lowers cholesterol?

Aim of the study: Carthamus tinctorius L. has a long history of ethnomedicinal use for various ailments. This review focuses on the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, and clinical applications of safflower, aiming to enhance current research in this field.

Results: From 1978 to April 2025, various active metabolites were identified, primarily comprising flavonoids, polyacetylenes, and alkaloids, with flavonoids being the predominant group. Extracts and metabolites derived from safflower have demonstrated a range of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. In clinical practice, the effective components of safflower have been utilized in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, hepatobiliary conditions, poor blood circulation, sudden deafness, and other ailments. This review elucidates the research surrounding safflower in the domains of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, and clinical applications. Safflower is known to contain a diverse array of compounds, with flavonoids in particular demonstrating significant pharmacological activity.

Aim of the study: Carthamus tinctorius L. is a multifunctional cash crop.

Results: In this paper, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of C. tinctorius is presented. This information will be helpful for further explorations of the therapeutic potential of C. tinctorius and may provide future research opportunities.

Aim of the study: Carthamus tinctorius L. is commonly known as Safflower.

Results: tinctorius flowers essential oil. Due to the easy collection of the plant and being widespread and also remarkable biological activities, this plant has become both food and medicine in many parts of the world. This review presents comprehensive analyzed information on the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of C. tinctorius.

Aim of the study: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), also known as Honghua, blueflower, or prickly safflower, is a medicinal herb effective in promoting blood circulation, dredging meridians, eliminating blood stasis, and relieving pain. Safflower contains complex chemical components, including flavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, pigments, etc.

Results: With extensive research by scholars on the active mechanisms and targets of safflower flavonoids, their application prospects in the medical field have been found to be extremely broad. This review used keywords such as "Carthamus tinctorius L.," "safflower," "flavonoids," "therapeutic effect," "mechanism," "application," etc., to search relevant studies up to January 2025 in multiple internationally recognized databases (including PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wan fang, Sci Finder, Elsevier, cnipa), finally including 143 high-quality studies. Representative images were drawn using BioRender and ChemDraw software to focus on presenting the action mechanisms and targets of safflower flavonoids. This article systematically reviews the pharmacological effects of safflower flavonoids and their applications in various fields in recent years, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and scientific basis for the comprehensive utilization of safflower resources and further research.

Aim of the study: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a critical complication in the management of acute myocardial infarction, substantially compromising clinical outcomes. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a natural compound derived from Carthamus tinctorius L., has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration for the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Results: We found that HSYA administration in MIRI-induced mice significantly reduced the myocardial infarct size, improved cardiac function, inhibited apoptosis, and restored myocardial bioenergetics by increasing ATP production and balancing the NAD+/NADH level. In H/R-injured H9c2 cells, HSYA dose-dependently reduced mitochondrial damage, decreased reactive oxygen species production, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, and promoted mitochondrial energy metabolism, including the levels of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Cysteine (Cys) activity-based protein profiling revealed that malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1), an essential metabolic enzyme involved in maintaining the mitochondrial energy metabolism homeostasis, was identified as a core target of HSYA. HSYA covalently activated MDH1 through Cys residue 137, thereby promoting MDH1's bioenergetic enzymatic activity and restoring mitochondrial energy metabolism homeostasis.

Aim of the study: Liver fibrosis is a critical determinant of the progression of chronic liver disease (CLD). Total flavonoids from Carthamus tinctorius L.

Results: Further mechanistic investigations revealed that TFCTLs exert their antifibrotic effects by inhibiting Hedgehog pathway and activating autophagy process. The antifibrotic effect of TFCTLs was partially reversed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA. Furthermore, the Hedgehog agonist PUR not only counteracted the anti-fibrotic actions of TFCTLs but also suppressed TFCTL-induced autophagy activation. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that TFCTLs attenuate liver fibrosis by inhibiting Hedgehog signaling and subsequently promoting autophagy, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.

Aim of the study: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) comorbid with depressive symptoms represents a significant public health challenge. The limitations of monotherapeutic approaches and the complex interplay between DR and depression highlight the need for comprehensive, integrated treatment strategies.

Results: ACHP treatment significantly alleviated hyperglycemia, retinal thinning, and depressive-like behaviors in the model mice. Multi-omics analysis revealed that ACHP restored gut microbiota balance by increasing beneficial Lactobacillus and reducing pathogenic genera such as Dubosiella and Faecalibaculum, while also reshaping ocular microbiota by suppressing pro-inflammatory Achromobacter and Pseudomonas. ACHP enhanced intestinal barrier integrity through upregulation of occludin, ZO-1 and MUC-2 and attenuated systemic and neuroinflammatory responses by reducing levels of LPS, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Metabolomic profiling revealed that ACHP normalized glycerophospholipid metabolism-crucial for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress-specifically by inhibiting PLA2 and COX-2 while upregulating PPARγ. Correlation network analysis further emphasized the interactions among gut/ocular microbiota, inflammatory markers, and metabolites, highlighting the central role of the gut-eye-brain axis.

Aim of the study: Carthamus tinctorius L., a traditional herbal medicine used for atherosclerosis (AS), lacks a clear understanding of its therapeutic mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles (CDNVs) in AS treatment.

Results: CDNVs were successfully isolated and purified from Carthamus tinctorius L. tissue lysates. They exhibited a saucer-shaped or cup-shaped morphology, with an average particle size of 142.6 ± 0.7 nm, and expressed EV markers CD63 and TSG101. CDNVs contained proteins, small RNAs, and metabolites, including the therapeutic compound HSYA. Small RNA sequencing identified 95 miRNAs, with 10 common miRNAs accounting for 72.63% of the total miRNAs. These miRNAs targeted genes involved in cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, suggesting their relevance in cardiovascular disease. Orally administered CDNVs were stable in the gastrointestinal tract, absorbed into the bloodstream, and accumulated in the liver, lungs, heart, and aorta. They significantly reduced the burden of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice and exhibited superior effects compared to HSYA.

Aim of the study: Recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 10 (rhFGF-10) is frequently used to treat patients with skin injuries. It can also promote hair growth.

Results: We identified a safflower line that carried the transgene and expressed a 45 kDa oleosin-rhFGF-10 protein. Oil body-bound oleosin-rhFGF-10 was absorbed by the skin with higher efficiency and speed compared with prokaryotically-expressed rhFGF-10. Oleosin-rhFGF-10 also enhanced wound closure and promoted hair growth better than rhFGF-10. The application of oleosin-rhFGF-10 in oil bodies promoted its delivery through the skin, providing a basis for improved therapeutic effects in enhancing wound healing and hair growth.

Aim of the study: Natural ingredients have been used for centuries for skin treatment and care. Interest in the health effects of plants has recently increased due to their safety and applicability in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Results: Natural ingredients have been used for centuries for skin treatment and care. Interest in the health effects of plants has recently increased due to their safety and applicability in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Long-known plant materials as well as newly discovered ones are increasingly being used in natural products of plant origin.