Safety Assessment and Pain Relief Properties of Saffron from Taliouine Region (Morocco)

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. In addition to its culinary utilization, this spice is used for medicinal purposes such as in pain management. In this study, the analgesic activity of Crocus sativus stigma extract (CSSE) was evaluated in rodents and its possible physiological mechanism was elucidated. The anti-nociceptive effect of CSSE was evaluated using three animal models (hot plate, writhing, and formalin tests). The analgesic pathways involved were assessed using various analgesia-mediating receptors antagonists. The oral administration of CSSE, up to 2000 mg/kg, caused no death or changes in the behavior or in the hematological and biochemical blood parameters of treated animals nor in the histological architecture of the animals’ livers and kidneys. CSSE showed a central, dose-dependent, anti-nociceptive effect in response to thermal stimuli; and a peripheral analgesic effect in the test of contortions induced by acetic acid. The dual (central and peripheral) analgesic effect was confirmed by the formalin test. The anti-nociceptive activity of CSSE was totally or partially reversed by the co-administration of receptor antagonists, naloxone, atropine, haloperidol, yohimbine, and glibenclamide. CSSE influenced signal processing, by the modulation of the opioidergic, adrenergic, and muscarinic systems at the peripheral and central levels; and by regulation of the dopaminergic system and control of the opening of the ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels at the spinal level. The obtained data point to a multimodal mechanism of action for CSSE: An anti-inflammatory effect and a modulation, through different physiological pathways, of the electrical signal generated by the nociceptors. Further clinical trials are required to endorse the potential utilization of Moroccan saffron as a natural painkiller.     

ChemInform Abstract: Polymorphism of New Rubidium Magnesium Monophosphate.

RbMgPO₄ is synthesized by solid state reaction of stoichiometric mixtures of Rb₂CO₃, 4MgCO₃·Mg(OH)₂·5H₂O, and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ (900 °C, 12 h).     

Morphology and Linear Viscoelasticity of Poly[ethylene‐co‐(1‐octene)]/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

Poly[ethylene‐co‐(1‐octene)] nanocomposites with different microstructures were prepared with two kinds of organoclay by melt intercalation. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the composites. Linear storage moduli of the composites in the melt state were found to increase greatly with increasing the extent of dispersion of silicate layers and showed an obvious sensitivity to the morphologies of the composites.     

Electrodeposition and characterization of copper sulfide (CuS) thin film: towards an understanding of the growth mechanism

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Copper sulfide (CuS) thin film was electrodeposited onto stainless steel (SS 316L) substrate under pulse potential control, from an aqueous acidic solution...