ArticleNutrients2023
Identification of Crocetin as a Dual Agonist of GPR40 and GPR120 Responsible for the Antidiabetic Effect of Saffron.
Article in Nutrients, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Hesperetin and Naringenin promote glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion from L-cell through activation of TGR5 and alleviated type 2 diabetes.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Saffron as a natural modulator of reverse cholesterol transport genes in atherosclerotic rabbits, with molecular docking insights.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, and Toxicity of Saffron (Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Compatibility of Whole Wheat-Based Composite Flour in the Development of Functional Foods.Food technology and biotechnology · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Crocin, a glycoside of crocetin, has been known as the principal component responsible for saffron's antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Crocetin, originating from the hydrolytic cleavage of crocin in biological systems, was subjected to ligand-based virtual screening in this investigation. Subsequent biochemical analysis unveiled crocetin, not crocin, as a novel dual GPR40 and GPR120 agonist, demonstrating a marked preference for GPR40 and GPR120 over peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)γ. This compound notably enhanced insulin and GLP-1 secretion from pancreatic β-cells and intestinal neuroendocrine cells, respectively, presenting a dual mechanism of action in glucose-lowering effects. Docking simulations showed that crocetin emulates the binding characteristics of natural ligands through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, whereas crocin's hindered fit within the binding pocket is attributed to steric constraints. Collectively, for the first time, this study unveils crocetin as the true active component of saffron, functioning as a GPR40/120 agonist with potential implications in antidiabetic interventions.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.