Safflower Red (Synonyms: Carthamin Yellow)

Safflower red is a polyketide synthase-derived quinochalcone glucoside red pigment originally isolated from C. tinctorius that has diverse biological activities.^1,2,3,4 Safflower red (100 and 200 µM) inhibits LPS-induced decreases in collagen II and aggrecan levels and reverses LPS-induced increases in TNF expression in isolated rat nucleus pulposus cells.³ It reverses decreases in serum glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and increases in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as decreases infarct area and brain edema induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury when administered at a dose of 40 mg/kg.⁴ Formulations containing safflower red have been used in the food, cosmetics, and clothing industries.

1.Shinozaki, J., Kenmoku, H., Nihei, K., et al.Cloning and functional analysis of three chalcone synthases from the flowers of safflowers Carthamus tinctoriusNat. Prod. Commun.11(6)787-790(2016) 2.Kazuma, K., Takahashi, T., Sato, K., et al.Quinochalcones and flavonoids from fresh florets in different cultivars of Carthamus tinctorius LBiosci. Biotechnol. Biochem.64(8)1588-1599(2000) 3.Chen, B., Wang, H.-T., Yu, B., et al.Carthamin yellow inhibits matrix degradation and inflammation induced by LPS in the intervertebral disc via suppression of MAPK pathway activationExp. Ther. Med.14(2)1614-1620(2017) 4.Guo, H., Zhu, L., Tang, P., et al.Carthamin yellow improves cerebral ischemia?reperfusion injury by attenuating inflammation and ferroptosis in ratsInt. J. Mol. Med.47(4)52(2021)