animal models. Studies on humans evaluating the functionality and bioavailability of
safflower seed oil, mechanism of action, toxicological effects, and recommended
dosage of intake need to be carried out to set the recommendations for regulatory
bodies and approval of safflower products as bioactive and functional compounds.
Moreover, further studies on toxicological effects also need to be carried out.
Last but not the least, safflower seed oil meal or cake contains various nutritional
and bioactive compounds and is used for animal feed but is not suitable for human
consumption due to its strong and bitter taste. Methods to eliminate or reduce the
bitterness of the seed meal need to be deduced. Some of the bitter compounds,
however, possess biological activities and thus should be evaluated for their alternative use or by masking their taste.
17.8 Conclusion
Safflower is a well-known crop cultivated for its edible oil. Safflower possesses
nutritional and therapeutic properties. It contains various nutrients and bioactive
compounds. Various pharmacological functions including anti-oxidation, antiinflammation, anti-diabetic, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, and osteogenic are
exhibited by safflower. Safflower seed oil, seed meal, and extracts can be employed
in developing different therapeutic and functional food products.
References
Abidi S (2001) Chromatographic analysis of plant sterols in foods and vegetable oils. J Chromatogr
A 935(1):173–201
Alam MR, Kim SM, Lee JI, Chon SK, Choi SJ, Choi IH, Kim NS (2006) Effects of safflower seed
oil in osteoporosis induced-ovariectomized rats. Am J Chin Med 34(04):601–612
Alizadeh A, Alikhani M, Ghorbani G, Rahmani H, Rashidi L, Loor J (2012) Effects of feeding
roasted safflower seeds (variety IL-111) and fish oil on dry matter intake, performance and milk
fatty acid profiles in dairy cattle. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 96(3):466–473
Amarowicz R, Raab B, Shahidi F (2003) Antioxidant activity of phenolic fractions of rapeseed. J
Food Lipids 10(1):51–62
Anderson RR (2005) Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne
vulgaris. Google Patents,
Arpornsuwan T, Changsri K, Roytrakul S, Punjanon T (2010) The effects of the extracts from
Carthamus tinctorius L. on gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism in rats.
Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 32(2)
Asgarpanah J, Kazemivash N (2013) Phytochemistry, pharmacology and medicinal properties of
Carthamus tinctorius L. Chin J Integr Med 19(2):153–159
Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang S-Y, Hsu JC, Belury MA (2011) Timedependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese,
post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, crossover study.
Clin Nutr 30(4):443–449
448
M. Nazir et al.
safflower seed oil, mechanism of action, toxicological effects, and recommended
dosage of intake need to be carried out to set the recommendations for regulatory
bodies and approval of safflower products as bioactive and functional compounds.
Moreover, further studies on toxicological effects also need to be carried out.
Last but not the least, safflower seed oil meal or cake contains various nutritional
and bioactive compounds and is used for animal feed but is not suitable for human
consumption due to its strong and bitter taste. Methods to eliminate or reduce the
bitterness of the seed meal need to be deduced. Some of the bitter compounds,
however, possess biological activities and thus should be evaluated for their alternative use or by masking their taste.
17.8 Conclusion
Safflower is a well-known crop cultivated for its edible oil. Safflower possesses
nutritional and therapeutic properties. It contains various nutrients and bioactive
compounds. Various pharmacological functions including anti-oxidation, antiinflammation, anti-diabetic, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, and osteogenic are
exhibited by safflower. Safflower seed oil, seed meal, and extracts can be employed
in developing different therapeutic and functional food products.
References
Abidi S (2001) Chromatographic analysis of plant sterols in foods and vegetable oils. J Chromatogr
A 935(1):173–201
Alam MR, Kim SM, Lee JI, Chon SK, Choi SJ, Choi IH, Kim NS (2006) Effects of safflower seed
oil in osteoporosis induced-ovariectomized rats. Am J Chin Med 34(04):601–612
Alizadeh A, Alikhani M, Ghorbani G, Rahmani H, Rashidi L, Loor J (2012) Effects of feeding
roasted safflower seeds (variety IL-111) and fish oil on dry matter intake, performance and milk
fatty acid profiles in dairy cattle. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 96(3):466–473
Amarowicz R, Raab B, Shahidi F (2003) Antioxidant activity of phenolic fractions of rapeseed. J
Food Lipids 10(1):51–62
Anderson RR (2005) Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne
vulgaris. Google Patents,
Arpornsuwan T, Changsri K, Roytrakul S, Punjanon T (2010) The effects of the extracts from
Carthamus tinctorius L. on gene expression related to cholesterol metabolism in rats.
Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 32(2)
Asgarpanah J, Kazemivash N (2013) Phytochemistry, pharmacology and medicinal properties of
Carthamus tinctorius L. Chin J Integr Med 19(2):153–159
Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang S-Y, Hsu JC, Belury MA (2011) Timedependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese,
post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, crossover study.
Clin Nutr 30(4):443–449
448
M. Nazir et al.