Crocetin reversed myocardial hypertrophy in vivo, possibly by blocking the reactive oxygen species-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (MEK/ERK1/2) pathway, thus protecting mice from the harmful effects of myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation (Cai et al., 2009). This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and cardiac hypertrophy.