The effect of crocin (a derivative of Crocus sativus L.) on neural development and regeneration of rat: in vivo and in vitro study

In this study, the effect of crocin, a substance found in Crocus sativus L. stigmata on nervous system development and regeneration was investigated. Crocin is a glycosyl ester of the polyene dicarboxylic acid crocetin and is one of the few families of carotenoids found in nature, which are freely soluble in water. In the first experiment, the effect of crocin (30 microM, 60 microM and 120 microM) on dorsal root ganglia (DRG) outgrowth was investigated quantitatively. Presence of crocin made a 2.4-fold increase (P