| Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and Exercise: Synergistic Molecular Pathways Enhancing Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review |
| Paper ID : 1393-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Abbass Ghanbari-Niaki1, Fatemeh Islami *2 1Exercise Biochemistry Division, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran 2Dr. Fatemeh Islami, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran. Zip code: 49138-15759 |
| Abstract |
| Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle interventions, especially regular exercise, are established strategies for cardiovascular protection. Concurrently, Carthamus tinctorius L. has emerged as a bioactive nutraceutical. Both exercise and safflower modulate overlapping molecular pathways. Understanding these shared mechanisms is crucial for developing integrative approaches to manage CVDs. Methods This narrative review was conducted through a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar for English-language studies from 2000 to 2025. Keywords included “Carthamus tinctorius,” “safflower extract,” “hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA),” “flavonoids,” “exercise,” “physical activity,” and cardiovascular outcomes such as “oxidative stress,” “endothelial function,” “inflammation,” and “lipid metabolism.” Both preclinical and clinical studies reporting molecular or physiological data on cardiovascular or cardiometabolic health were included. Extracted data covered study design, population, interventions, molecular targets, and cardioprotective outcomes. Evidence was narratively synthesized to identify shared pathways modulated by safflower and exercise in enhancing cardiometabolic health. Results Preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that exercise and safflower extract synergistically enhance cardiovascular health through overlapping molecular pathways. Exercise improves antioxidant defense, mitochondrial efficiency, endothelial nitric oxide production, and cardiomyocyte survival via PI3K/Akt/mTOR and autophagy regulation. Safflower bioactive compounds, including HSYA, flavonoids, and phenolics, attenuate oxidative stress, suppress inflammatory cytokines, and optimize lipid metabolism and vascular function. Both interventions converge on ROS scavenging, anti-inflammatory signaling, and metabolic regulation. Clinical trials demonstrate favorable effects on lipid profiles, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular risk. However, excessive exercise or high safflower intake may induce adverse responses, underscoring the importance of appropriate dosing and training intensity. Conclusion Regular exercise and Carthamus tinctorius extract exert synergistic cardioprotective effects through overlapping molecular mechanisms. Integrating lifestyle interventions with safflower supplementation offers a promising strategy for CVD prevention and management. |
| Keywords |
| Carthamus tinctorius, Exercise, Cardiometabolic Health, Molecular Pathways, Oxidative Stress |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
