Preparation, chemical characterization and determination of crocetin's pharmacokinetics after oral and intravenous administration of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract to C57/BL6J mice

Objectives To prepare a lyophilized saffron aqueous extract (SFE) and determine its chemical profile and serum and tissue pharmacokinetics after intravenous and oral administration to C57/Bl6J mice. Methods Lyophilized SFE was prepared, characterized using semi-preparative HPLC and NMR analysis, and stability studies at room temperature, and was quantified for crocin content with an HPLC-PDA method. After intravenous and oral administration of...