Transcrocetinate (Transcrocetin, trans-Crocetin), a saffron metabolite originating from the crocin apocarotenoids, has been shown to exert strong NMDA receptor affinity and is thought to be responsible for the CNS activity of saffron. To ensure unchanged viability of Caco-2 cells throughout the transport experiments, cellular mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity of Caco-2 cells is measured by MTT assay after a 24 h incubation period with the test compounds: Hydroalcoholic saffron extract saffron extract (SE, 0.5-1 mg/mL) and crocin-1 (250-1000 μM) reveal no negative significant changes in cellular viability. Transcrocetinate at 10 μM level does not change viability while higher concentrations (40-160 μM) reduces significantly cellular viability.

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NMDA receptor