Research progress on the pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and biosynthesis of crocins

• Zhongwei Hua,
• Nan Liu and
• Xiaohui Yan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 741–752, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.68

• , aiming to lay the foundation for the large-scale production of these valuable natural products by using engineered microbial cell factories. Keywords: biosynthetic pathway; crocetin; crocins; metabolic engineering; pharmacological activity; Introduction Crocins are hydrophilic apocarotenoids mainly

• family are the monoglycosyl, diglycosyl, or triglycosyl products of 8,8′-diapocarotene-8,8′-dioic acid (crocetin, 1) or derivatives thereof. In addition to C. sativus and G. jasminoides, Buddleja officinalis and Buddleja davidii from the Loganiaceae family [1][2], Nyctanthes arbor-tristis from the

• ) ameliorates myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction induced by coronary ligation. Although crocin and crocetin derivatives exhibit a diverse scope of biological activity, they are characterized by poor stability and low bioavailability, which has significantly impeded clinical developments. Recently