Iranian, Japanese universities to cooperate on saffron

Tokyo, Oct 13, IRNA -Iranian and Japanese universities will cooperate in the fields of saffron (red gold) and herbal medicines, head of Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said.

Hossein Hosseinzadeh made the remark while addressing the second
seminar to introduce Iranian saffron and herbal medicines at the
Iranian Embassy in Tokyo on Sunday.

"An agreement has been inked by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
and Japan's Chiba University," he said.

Hosseinzadeh underlined that as per the agreement, the two
universities will cooperate in the fields of joint research, exchange
of university students and professors and so on.

"According to the latest statistics, Iran produces over 96 percent of
the red gold produced worldwide," he said, expressing regret that
saffron comes in large bulk packages and some countries such as Spain
and the UAE are selling Iranian saffron under their own names," the
official added.

Hosseinzadeh further stated that red gold is known to be a strong
antioxidant, a substance thought to protect the body.

According to him, such seminars play a vital role in introducing
Iranian saffron to the world.

Some 140 Iranian and Japanese university professors and researchers
were present in the event.