ISHS Acta Horticulturae 850: III International Symposium on Saffron: Forthcoming Challenges in Cultivation, Research and Economics
ANTIOXIDANT SAFFRON CONSTITUENTS BIND DNA AND TRNA |
| Authors: | C.D. Kanakis, P.A. Tarantilis, M.G. Polissiou, H.A. Tajmir-Riahi |
| Keywords: | binding constant, binding sites, conformation, Crocus sativus L., FT-IR, UV-Visible |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.850.36 |
| Abstract:
Crocetin (CRT) and dimethylcrocetin (DMCRT) are derived from saffron’s carotenoids while safranal is the main component of its essential oil. The antioxidant activity of these compounds was tested by the DPPH antioxidant activity assay. Also the interactions of CRT, DMCRT and safranal with calf-thymus DNA and transfer RNA in aqueous solution at physiological conditions are reported. The structural analysis showed external binding to the major or minor groove and some degree of intercalation of saffron compounds to DNA and RNA. A partial B- to A-DNA transition occurs at high ligand concentration while tRNA remains in the A-family. | |
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