Entod Pharmaceuticals has come up with a saffron-based eye care supplement, Macusaff capsule in India. It has been manufactured from 100 per cent DNA-certified Persian-origin natural saffron extract with five per cent crocins, and is imported from France. It helps with various eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa, a company statement said.
The statement quoted Nikkhil K Masurkar, Executive Director, Entod Pharmaceuticals as saying that saffron is a spice, which is harvested from the fall-flowering plant Crocus Sativus, a member of the Iris family…..It is a spice that contains the antioxidant carotenoids crocin and crocetin, among other ingredients, with strong antioxidative, cellular and neuroprotective properties. Based on animal and in-vitro research, modern medicine has discovered that saffron has anticarcinogenic, immunomodulating, neuroprotective eye health and antioxidant-like properties. Saffron contains carotenoids crocin and crocetin that have shown strong protective effects on retinal cells that help restore the function and structure of retinal cells damaged by oxidative stress in age-related macular degeneration.
“Our saffron-based Macusaff veg capsule improves retinal flicker sensitivity, blood flow, protects RGC, reduces intraocular pressure and supports natural mechanisms of the eye,” he mentioned.
A clinical study has shown that taking oral supplementation of saffron (20 mg per day) for three months in patients with early-stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) induced a significant improvement of retinal function and visual clarity. Saffron has some unique properties for modifying the activity level of specific genes in the retina of the eye that play an important role in the protection and repair of retinal cells. The beneficial effects of supplementation with saffron in early ARMD are unique, and have not been observed with other nutrients, the statement added.