Figure 1.

Saffron crudes reduced the proliferation and viability of CRC cells in a MACC1-dependent manner. CRC cells were treated with four different saffron crudes. Every second hour the confluence of the cells was measured by a live cell imaging system. Each saffron crude reduced the proliferation of both SW480/MACC1 (A–D) and SW620/Control cells (E–H). Cell viability was further assessed using MTT assay, and correlatively to the previous results, each saffron crude decreased the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Cells treated with 5% saffron did not show a reduced viability (I) whereas the 2-fold increased amount of saffron reduced the cell viability most pronounced for saffron 1, 2 and 3 (J). Data are represented as mean ± SEM (n ≥ 3). p values were calculated using one-way ANOVA, * p < 0.05.