Crocetin gentiobiosylglucosyl ester (Crocin II) is extracted from saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Tricrocin is a water soluble crocetin glycoside, a carotenoid pigment of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) that has been used as a spice for flavoring and coloring food preparations, and in Chinese traditional medicine as an anodyne or tranquilizer. Saffron is now used worldwide in folk medicine and is reputed to be useful in treating various human disorders such as heart and blood disorders. Stroke and heart attack are involved in reputed folkloric uses of saffron. Saffron is orally administrated as a decoction. Saffron extract exerts a protective effect on renal ischemia reperfusion induced oxidative damage in rats; Crocetin esters present in saffron stigmas and in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruit are the compounds responsible for their color. Crocin, in general term, includes Crocin-I (Crocetin-di-beta -D-gentiobiosyl ester), Crocin-II (Crocetin-beta-D-gentiobiosyl-beta-D-glucosyl ester), Crocin-III (Crocetin-mono-beta-D-gentiobiosyl ester), Crocin-IV (beta-D-monoglucoside ester of monomethyl alpha-crocetin). Saffron from Zhejiang (containing 21.15 ug/ml of Crocetin gentiobiosylglucosyl ester) has significant antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo through caspase-8-caspase-9-caspase-3 mediated cell apoptosis. It thus appears to have a potential as a therapeutic agent.