Safflower extract, or safflower yellow (SY), is used in traditional Chinese medicine. In tissue-damaged areas, safflower yellow pigment can improve capillary circulation by promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Hydroxysafflower Yellow A (HSYA) and Safflower Yellow B (SYB) are the two primary water-soluble chalcones that make up safflower yellow. By promoting the production of the anti-apoptosis gene, bcl-2, and boosting cardiac contraction and expansion activities, safflower injection provides a good protective impact on the heart. The yellow pigment found in safflower can help injured tendons heal by reducing inflammation and adhesions while also facilitating healing [1].

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In a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury (SCIRI), intravenous administration of Safflower yellow (SY) at a dose of 2 mL/kg (16% wt/vol solution, equivalent to 3.2 mg/kg bolus followed by a total infusion of 5 mL/kg) significantly improved neurological deficit scores of hind limbs at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion compared to the untreated injury group.
SY treatment significantly attenuated the increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity induced by SCIRI at multiple time points post-reperfusion.
SY treatment significantly reduced the elevation of plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels caused by SCIRI.
Western blot analysis showed that SY treatment significantly reduced the increased expression of caspase-3 protein in spinal cord tissue induced by SCIRI.
Histopathological examination (HE staining) revealed that SY treatment increased the percentage of normal motor neurons in the spinal cord anterior horn (66.75% ± 4.37%) compared to the injury group (33.74% ± 5.31%).
TUNEL staining showed that SY treatment significantly decreased the apoptotic index (ratio of TUNEL-positive neurons) in the spinal cord anterior horn compared to the injury group.
Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that SY treatment significantly decreased the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in spinal cord neurons compared to the injury group.[1]

Adult male New Zealand rabbits (2.0–2.5 kg) were anesthetized and subjected to spinal cord ischemia by occluding the abdominal aorta below the left renal artery for 40 minutes, followed by reperfusion to establish the SCIRI model.
Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated control, spinal cord ischemia reperfusion (SI/R), and SI/R treated with Safflower yellow (SI/R + SY).
In the SI/R + SY group, a 16% (wt/vol) Safflower yellow solution was administered intravenously via the femoral vein. A bolus of 2 mL/kg was given at the moment of reperfusion, followed by a continuous infusion to a total volume of 5 mL/kg.
Control and SI/R groups received equivalent volumes of 0.9% saline.
Neurological function of hind limbs was scored at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion.
Blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-reperfusion for plasma analysis of MDA, SOD, and IL-8.
All animals were sacrificed 48 hours post-reperfusion. Spinal cord segments (L2-5) were collected for Western blot (L2-3) and histopathological/immunohistochemical analysis (L4-5 after fixation in 10% neutral formaldehyde).[1]

[1]. The effect of safflower yellow on spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury in rabbits. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:692302.

Safflower yellow is a component extracted from the flowers of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and belongs to traditional Chinese medicine. It is a water-soluble chalcone mixture, the main components of which are hydroxysafflower yellow A (HSYA) and safflower yellow B (SYB). Studies have shown that the protective mechanism of safflower yellow against spinal cord injury includes reducing lipid peroxidation (reducing MDA level and increasing SOD level), alleviating inflammatory response (reducing IL-8 level), and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis (regulating the expression of caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2). [1]

C42H43O22

899.78

450.116

1401-20-3

12305280

Light brown to brown solid powder

0.7

8

11

6

32

650

4

O1[C@]([H])(C([H])([H])O[H])[C@]([H])([C@@]([H])([C@]([H])([C@]1([H])OC1(C(/C(=C(/C(/[H])=C(\[H])/C2C([H])=C([H])C(=C([H])C=2[H])O[H])\O[H])/C(C([H])(C1=O)C([H])([H])C1=C(/C(=C(/C(/[H])=C(\[H])/C2C([H])=C([H])C(=C([H])C=2[H])O[H])\O[H])/C(C(C1=O)(O[H])O[C@@]1([H])[C@@]([H])([C@]([H])([C@@]([H])([C@@]([H])(C([H])([H])O[H])O1)O[H])O[H])O[H])=O)O[H])=O)=O)O[H])O[H])O[H])O[H]

CDYQWSDJFXZWAX-KWEGHWBSSA-N

InChI=1S/C21H22O11/c22-8-14-17(28)18(29)19(30)21(31-14)32-20-15(12(25)7-13(26)16(20)27)11(24)6-3-9-1-4-10(23)5-2-9/h1-7,14,17-19,21-23,25-30H,8H2/b6-3+/t14-,17-,18+,19-,21?/m1/s1

(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[3,4,6-trihydroxy-2-[(3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]prop-2-en-1-one

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: This product requires protection from light (avoid light exposure) during transportation and storage.

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO : ~20 mg/mL

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2 mg/mL (Infinity mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2 mg/mL (Infinity mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)