HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS-Guided Profiling of Bioactive Compounds in Fresh and Stored Saffron Corms Reveals Potent Anticancer Activity Against Colorectal Cancer

TL;DR

Stored saffron corms contain more bioactive compounds and show stronger anticancer effects against colorectal cancer cells compared to fresh corms.

Contribution

This study reveals that stored saffron corms have enhanced anticancer activity and richer bioactive profiles compared to fresh ones.

Findings

Stored saffron corm extracts showed higher abundance of bioactive metabolites and stronger cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cells.

Apoptosis was confirmed in T84 cells through increased caspase-9 and p53 expression.

In silico studies showed strong interactions of key metabolites with COX2 and VEGFR2 targets.

Abstract

Background: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms, often discarded as agricultural by-products, are a promising and sustainable source of bioactive metabolites with potential therapeutic relevance. However, their anticancer potential remains largely underinvestigated. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extracts from fresh (HEEF) and stored (HEES) saffron corms and to evaluate their anticancer effectiveness against colorectal cancer cells. Methods: Phytochemical profiling was performed using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Cytotoxicity against T84 and SW480 colorectal cancer cell lines was determined by the crystal violet assay. Apoptosis-related protein modulation was assessed by Western blotting. Additionally, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM/GBSA calculations were used to investigate ligand–target binding affinities and stability. Results: Both extracts contained diverse primary and secondary metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, lignans, anthraquinones, carotenoids, sugars, and fatty acids. HEES showed higher relative abundance of key bioactive metabolites than HEEF, which was enriched mainly in primary metabolites. HEES showed significantly greater dose-dependent cytotoxicity, particularly against SW480 cells after 24 h (IC50 = 34.85 ± 3.35). Apoptosis induction was confirmed through increased expression of caspase-9 and p53 in T84 cells. In silico studies revealed strong and stable interactions of major metabolites, especially 3,8-dihydroxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid with COX2 and crocetin with VEGFR2. Conclusions: Stored saffron corms possess a richer bioactive profile and show enhanced anticancer effects in vitro compared with fresh saffron corms, suggesting that they may represent a promising source of compounds for the future development of colorectal cancer therapeutics.

Figures