西红花苷(crocin)是从栀子和西红花2种传统中药材中提取的水溶性类胡萝卜素,是这2种中药材的主要药理活性成份。它水溶性好,容易被机体吸收,生物利用度高,西红花苷具有广泛的药理活性,是一种高效的抗氧化剂~([1])、此外,它还具有保护心血管~([2])、抗炎~([3-4])、神经保护~([5-7])及机体免疫力的作用~([8]),同时研究还发现西红花苷是一种天然肿瘤抑制剂,可以诱导多种肿瘤细胞发生凋亡,发挥抗肿瘤 Crocin is a water-soluble carotenoid extracted from two kinds of traditional Chinese medicinal materials of gardenia and saffron, and is the main pharmacologically active ingredient of these two kinds of Chinese herbal medicines. It is water-soluble, easily absorbed by the body, high bioavailability, crocin has a wide range of pharmacological activity, is a highly effective antioxidant [1], in addition, it also has the protection of cardiovascular ~ ([ 2]), anti-inflammation ~ ([3-4]), neuroprotection ~ ([5-7]) and the role of the body’s immune system ~ ([8]), at the same time also found that crocin was a natural Tumor inhibitors, can induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells, play anti-tumor