# Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activity of _Crocus sativus_ L. Petals
## 5 Discussion
aureus_ have been inhibited at the lowest inhibitory concentration of 15.63 ug/mL. Nevertheless, the extracts of petals were not very effective in inhibiting the growth of _E. coli_ and _C. albicans_ at a lower concentration. This variance in antimicrobial activity of extracts of safron petals between the studies may possibly be due to the variation in phenolic composition and concentrations in the extracts used [26; 47]. The results of the study provide evidence of _C. sativus_ petals may be a possible source of potential antimicrobial agents [48]. Our results are similar to the earlier study, in which authors noticed a rise in antimicrobial activity of _C. sativus_ extracts with increase in concentrations [49]. The results also revealed that there is very week antimicrobial activity against low polar solvents. In other study, the high polar solvents like alcohol showed significant antimicrobial effects against different bacteria and fungi [50]. Our results are consistent with the previous study conducted by [PERSON] et al. which indicated that aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of safron petals had increased antimicrobial activity against _S. aureus_ in comparison to _E. coli_. The higher sensitivity for _S. aureus_ may be due to the arrangement of the cell wall and the outer membrane [51]. The antimicrobial effects of some of the active ingredients of _C. sativus_, such as quercetin, rutin and morin have been reported [52]. Previously also we had performed the analysis of safron petals by using LC-ESI-Q-TOFMS technique and results confirm the presence of various flavonoids like quercetin, rutin, fisetin and morin [47]. \(\alpha\)-glucosidase is a crucial carbohydrate digestion enzyme found in the brush-border interface membrane of intestinal cells that decreases postprandial glucose by reducing glucose uptake, which is also a form of treatment and maintenance of diabetes. Glucosidase inhibitors inhibit the activity of \(\alpha\)-glucosidase enzymes throughout the small intestine, that restrict the translation of carbohydrate for gastrointestinal absorption. Several natural compounds, particularly polyphenols, have been published to have \(\alpha\)-glucosidase inhibitory activity. SPE had the highest flavonoid and phenolic content followed by SPD and SPH was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. Polyphenolic derivatives found in plant extracts of flavonoids, terpen have been shown to suppress most of the enzyme \(\alpha\)-glucosidase, this is thought to be due to the structural similarity between these compounds and the bonds found in natural substrates [53; 54]. Research from around the world have shown that polyphenols contained in medicinal plants suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis, thus slowing the growth of numerous cancer cells [55]. Few cell line studies have proven the anti-cancer capabilities of _C. sativus_ petals. Safran and crocetin have been reported to induce apoptosis in human breast cancer cells through p53-mediated stimulation of apoptosis [56]. Cell viability tests was performed on the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines to determine the relative toxicity of the extracts [57]. Our results are in line with the previous study and found SPE toxicity was to be active and higher against MDA-MB-231, with cell viability declining with steadily increasing concentration.