For millennia, saffron (Crocus sativus) has been treasured not only as a culinary spice but also for its extensive medicinal properties. Ancient civilizations revered saffron for its healing capabilities, with the earliest documented use dating back to 1800 BC, depicted in Thera (Santorini) wall paintings where a woman treats a wound with saffron. The Akkadian city of Azupiranu, famously known as "Saffron City," highlights its historical significance, where King Sargon of Akkad was believed to have been cured by saffron. Ancient Chinese medical texts, like Shennong Bencaojing from the 3rd century BC, reference saffron as a remedy for memory issues and dementia, indicating its early introduction into Chinese medicine by the Mogul invaders.
Throughout history, various cultures harnessed saffron’s therapeutic benefits. In Persia, it was mixed into hot tea as a treatment for melancholy. The Sumerians used wild saffron in magical potions and salves for ailments like aching legs. Egyptian healers applied saffron for gastrointestinal issues and urinary tract diseases, believing its ointments could purify the body's internal organs. During Alexander the Great’s campaigns, saffron was used in infusions and baths for its curative properties on battle wounds, and as an aphrodisiac. Medieval European records, including those by Aulus Cornelius Celsus and Byzantine physician Myrepsos, document saffron’s use for treating wounds, coughs, colic, and skin ailments.
In more recent times, modern pharmacology has confirmed many of saffron's traditional uses. Its active compounds—crocin, safranal, and crocetin—exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anticancer properties. Research has shown that saffron can improve blood circulation, aid in the treatment of major depressive disorders, and offer neuroprotective benefits against diseases like Alzheimer’s. During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies suggested that saffron’s antioxidant properties might help reduce oxidative stress in patients. This rich history and ongoing research highlight saffron's enduring value as a potent natural remedy across various cultures and eras.
What Does Saffron Do?
Saffron (Crocus sativus) has been used medicinally for centuries due to its various health benefits. The primary active compounds in saffron—crocin, crocetin, and safranal—contribute to its therapeutic properties. Here are some key medicinal benefits of saffron:
- Antidepressant Properties
Saffron has shown promise in treating mild to moderate depression. Studies have demonstrated that saffron supplementation can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. The active compound safranal is believed to influence serotonin levels in the brain, contributing to its antidepressant effects.
- Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
Saffron contains potent antioxidant compounds like crocin and crocetin, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are linked to various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
- Neuroprotective Benefits
Saffron has been studied for its potential to protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of crocin and crocetin help protect brain cells from damage and improve cognitive function.
- Anticancer Potential
Research indicates that saffron and its active compounds may have anticancer properties. Crocin, in particular, has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in various types of cancer, including breast, liver, and lung cancers.
- Cardiovascular Health
Saffron may benefit cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure. Its antioxidant properties help prevent damage to blood vessels and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
- Antidiabetic Effects
Saffron has shown potential in managing diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing blood glucose levels. The active compounds in saffron help enhance the body's ability to utilize glucose, thus aiding in better blood sugar control.
- Eye Health
Saffron has been found to improve vision and protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Crocin enhances retinal blood flow and oxygenation, which helps maintain healthy vision and prevent degenerative eye conditions.
- Pain Relief
Saffron has analgesic properties and has been used traditionally to relieve pain. It can be effective in managing conditions like menstrual pain, muscle soreness, and joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
- Digestive Health
Saffron has been used to treat various gastrointestinal issues, including indigestion, gas, and stomach cramps. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help soothe the digestive tract and improve overall gut health.
How Does It Work?
The metabolic journey of crocetin involves its transformation into conjugated forms like crocetin diglucuronide and crocetin monoglucuronide through glucuronidation, which occurs partly in the intestinal mucosa and liver. These transformations facilitate its pharmacological activities. Despite its beneficial properties, crocetin's distribution in the body remains a complex process, possibly involving binding to plasma albumin and lipoproteins. Its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, although slow, underpins its potential as an antidepressant.
Saffron and Major Depressive Disorder
A meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of saffron supplementation on depressive symptoms in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The review found that saffron significantly alleviates depressive symptoms compared to placebo, with a large effect size favoring saffron. Additionally, saffron's efficacy was comparable to standard antidepressants such as fluoxetine and imipramine, with no significant differences in symptom reduction. Notably, saffron had fewer adverse effects than imipramine. However, the short duration (6-8 weeks) of these trials limits understanding of saffron’s long-term safety and effectiveness.
Saffron and Parkinson’s
Saffron and its components—crocin, crocetin, and safranal—have demonstrated promising anti-Parkinson effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Research indicates that crocin and safranal can inhibit the fibrillation of amyloid structures, which are linked to diseases such as Parkinson's. Crocin, in particular, was found to be more effective than safranal in these inhibitory activities. A study on rats showed that seven-day administration of crocetin reduced dopamine utilization in tissues, suggesting a neuroprotective mechanism against Parkinson's disease.
In another study, saffron pre-treatment was found to protect dopaminergic cells in both the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and retina in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP. Mice pre-treated with saffron showed a significant increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) cell counts in the SNc and retina, bringing the levels closer to those of control mice. This indicates that saffron pre-treatment can save many dopaminergic cells from Parkinsonian damage, highlighting its potential as a neuroprotective agent against Parkinson's disease.
Saffron’s Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Effects
Crocin, a key compound in saffron, has shown significant antioxidant properties in various studies. At a concentration of 10 μM, crocin inhibited the formation of peroxidized lipids in cultured PC12 cells, restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and maintained neuronal morphology, outperforming α-tocopherol at certain concentrations. Additionally, administration of Crocus sativus stigma extract (100 mg/kg) prior to inducing cerebral ischemia in rats significantly reduced oxidative stress markers such as SOD, catalase, and Na, K-ATPase activities, as well as glutamate and aspartate concentrations.
Further studies have demonstrated that saffron extract and crocin can mitigate neurotoxic effects. Pretreatment with saffron extract or crocin decreased glucose-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, while prolonged administration of saffron extract and honey syrup reduced aluminium chloride-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Safranal, another active component of saffron, exhibited protective effects against oxidative damage in hippocampal tissue under ischemic conditions and following excitotoxic insults. Crocin has been shown to enhance the activity of SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in ischemic stroke models. Collectively, these findings underscore the potent neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of saffron and its components, highlighting their potential in preventing and treating oxidative stress-related neural damage.
Saffron's Protective Effects Against Brain Injury and Stroke
Crocin, an active compound in saffron, has demonstrated significant protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury and cerebral edema in rat models of stroke. Studies have shown that administering crocin (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) before or after inducing ischemia reduced brain edema and decreased infarct volume. Specifically, a dose of 60 mg/kg administered one hour before or after ischemia onset effectively mitigated brain damage, highlighting crocin's potential in stroke therapy.
The neuroprotective effects of crocetin, another saffron component, are attributed to its ability to inhibit early-stage apoptosis and promote angiogenesis during the subacute stage of brain injury. This is facilitated by increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and serum response factor (SRF). Additionally, crocin has been found to prevent retinal ganglion cell apoptosis after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, increasing the Bcl-2/BAX ratio, which inhibits neuronal cell death induced by apoptotic stimuli.
Further studies revealed crocin's ability to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced proapoptotic mRNA expression and inhibit caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, thereby preventing cell death. Crocin also showed superior antioxidant properties compared to α-tocopherol, effectively inhibiting lipid peroxidation and caspase-8 activation in serum/glucose-deprived cells. These findings underscore the potential of crocin and crocetin in safeguarding neural cells from ischemic and oxidative stress-induced injuries, offering promising avenues for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative conditions and stroke.
Saffron’s Influence on Neurotransmitters and Memory
Saffron's aqueous extract has been shown to significantly increase brain dopamine concentrations in a dose-dependent manner without affecting serotonin or norepinephrine levels. Research by Ettehadi et al. (2013) indicated that higher doses of saffron extract (250 mg/kg) notably boosted the production of critical neurotransmitters, including dopamine and glutamate, in the rat brain. This suggests saffron's potential role in modulating neurotransmitter activity and its implications for neurological health.
Saffron also exhibits effects similar to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists in conditioning place preference (CPP) induced by morphine. The analgesic effects of saffron can be diminished by NMDA receptor antagonists, indicating an interaction between saffron and the glutamatergic system. NMDA receptors are crucial in memory processing, particularly in the amygdala and hippocampus, and play a role in morphine state-dependent learning. Studies suggest that saffron and its components may influence memory through NMDA receptors and the cholinergic system, highlighting saffron’s potential benefits for enhancing memory and cognitive function.
Saffron Safety and Toxicity
Saffron has been generally found to be safe at therapeutic doses with minimal toxicity. Clinical studies, including a double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Ayatollahi et al., demonstrated that saffron tablets (200 and 400 mg/day) over a week showed no adverse effects on coagulation. Another study by Mousavi et al. found that saffron and its active compound crocin, administered at 15 mg twice daily to patients with schizophrenia, did not exhibit toxic effects on the kidney, liver, thyroid, or hematologic system. These findings underscore saffron's safety profile in short-term use for various conditions.
Our Favorite Way To Take Saffron
Sure, you can always go to the grocery store and a sprinkle a bit of saffron onto a dish for minor benefit, but the magic comes when it is dosed properly. THE FULLEST is a company which “seeks to assist individuals in approaching each day with a mindset of clarity and calmness” and they are able to achieve just that in their saffron capsules, and saffron latte powder! Each dose of the saffron latte powder boasts a dose of 150mg (or about 75 saffron threads). Therapeutic dosing for saffron starts from around 30mg, but 150mg has been shown to be the sweet spot according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Not only does it make you feel good, but it tastes delicious! Use code SAFFRONBRAINZ for 15% off your first purchase on thefullest.com!
Saffron (Crocus sativus) stands as a testament to the enduring power of natural remedies, bridging ancient wisdom with modern science. Its rich history, spanning from ancient civilizations to contemporary medical research, underscores its multifaceted medicinal properties. From treating melancholy in ancient Persia to its modern applications in combating depression, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases, saffron's therapeutic potential is vast and well-documented. The bioactive compounds—crocin, crocetin, and safranal—are at the heart of its health benefits, offering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. As ongoing research continues to unveil the profound impacts of saffron on human health, it remains a cherished natural remedy, revered for its ability to enhance well-being across various cultures and eras.