Importance and impact of Cement Industry on Saffron (Crocus Sativus)

Saffron plant is one of the most important specie. It is the most precious and most expensive spice in the world derived from the stigma of the flower of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) plant. Saffron contains many plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have several biological activities including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-cancer activities and antiproliferative. Saffron acts as an important antioxidant that protects body from oxidant-induced stress, infections and acts as immune modulator. The active components in saffron have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines as antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-oxidant, digestive and anti-convulsant. The present article attempt to generate information on impacts of cement pollution on saffron plant. As this plant, a precious asset is under various threats among them, main threat is cement pollution. As because of cement pollution, process of accumulation of heavy metal levels in soil and plant samples are seen high and as plants are more sensitive to excessive amounts of heavy metals than animals and hence are indicators for alerting against possible dangers for humans and animals. Hence it can be concluded from the study that the most probable effect of cement dust would be a help to adopt new aims, models, techniques and methods which would be cost-effective on soils suffering heavy metal pollution and thus would help to reduce heavy metal induced yield and quality loses in saffron.