Publication at Faculty of Science |
2020
Abstract
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and inflammation. Safflower and its bioactive substances also act on the nervous system; anxiolytic, antidepressant, neuroprotective and procognitive effects have been reported.
However, only in vitro experiments and animal studies are available, no clinical studies investigating the effect of safflower or its ingredients on the nervous system in humans have been conducted. 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 safflower.