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- "BMC Pharmacol": Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Crocus sativus L. stigma and petal extracts in mice
- "BMC Pharmacol": Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Crocus sativus L. stigma and petal extracts in mice
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
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The Benefits of Saffron Root
Saffron, also known as Crocus sativus, originated in the area spanning from Greece to Persia, now known as Iran. Saffron threads were traditionally used to dye cloth as a yellowish-orange color for the yellow-red color of robes for Hindu and Buddhist monks in India, Tibet and China, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine 1. Iran is the world’s largest grower of saffron with an 85 percent share of the market, and Spain is the primary exporter. Saffron is known as the most expensive spice, reaching upwards of $5,000 a pound. However, the medicinal dosage is only approximately 30mg daily, making it much more affordable to the average consumer.
Antidepressant
According to a 2005 scientific study by Psychiatric Research Center in Tehran, Iran, published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," saffron has comparable effectiveness to Prozac against depression. In the randomized, double-blind study, it was found that study participants who consumed 30mg of saffron extract daily for six weeks experienced significant alleviation of depression compared to those on the placebo.
Aphrodisiac
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Saffron has long been considered an aphrodisiac. The specific effect of taking saffron, according to the "India Times," is that it makes erogenous zones even more sensitive 2. There has been limited research regarding the aphrodisiac application of the spice, but what is known is that it contains crocin, a carotenoid compound, which is known to play an important role in the sexual processes of algae.
Anti-Inflammatory
The spice's application as an anti-inflammatory agent has been known for thousands of years. A research team from the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology at The University of Manchester discovered the evidence in medical papyri written in 1500-1000 B.C. that indicated the Egyptians used saffron to treat inflammation, according to "Medical News Today."
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References
- Institute for Traditional Medicine: Saffron
- "Medical News Today": The True Fathers Of Medicine Were Egyptian, Not Greek
- "BMC Pharmacol": Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Crocus sativus L. stigma and petal extracts in mice
- Hosseinzadeh H. Saffron: a herbal medicine of third millennium. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2014;9(1):1-2. PMID: 24644431
- Gjørup I, Gjørup T, Andersen B. Serum selenium and zinc concentrations in morbid obesity. Comparison of controls and patients with jejunoileal bypass. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1988;23(10):1250-2.
- Gohari AR, et al. An overview on saffron, phytochemicals, and medicinal properties. Pharmacogn Rev. 2013 Jan-Jun; 7(13): 61–66.
- Moshiri M, Vahabzadeh M, Hosseinzadeh H. Clinical Applications of Saffron (Crocus sativus) and its Constituents: A Review. Drug Res (Stuttg). 2015;65(6):287-95. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1375681
- Akhondzadeh S, Sabet MS, Harirchian MH et al. Saffron in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 16-week, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther 2010; 35: 581-58837.
- Lashay Alireza, et al. Short-term Outcomes of Saffron Supplementation in Patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Trial. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2016 Spring; 5(1): 32–38.
- Talaei A, Hassanpour moghadam M, Sajadi tabassi SA, Mohajeri SA. Crocin, the main active saffron constituent, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial. J Affect Disord. 2015;174:51-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.11.035
- Shahmansouri N, Farokhnia M, Abbasi SH, et al. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. J Affect Disord. 2014;155:216-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.11.003
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27.
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Inarejos-Garcia AM, Prodanov M.affron®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2018 May;232:349-357.
- Gout B, Bourges C, Paineau-Dubreuil S. Satiereal, a Crocus sativus L extract, reduces snacking and increases satiety in a randomized placebo-controlled study of mildly overweight, healthy women. Nutr Res. 2010 May;30(5):305-13.
- Broadhead GK, Grigg JR, Mccluskey P, Hong T, Schlub TE, Chang AA. Saffron therapy for the treatment of mild/moderate age-related macular degeneration: a randomised clinical trial. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2019;257(1):31-40. DOI: 10.1007/s00417-018-4163-x
- Maleki-Saghooni N, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety on erectile dysfunction and semen parameters. Avicenna J Phytomed. May-Jun;8(3):198-209.
- Agha-hosseini M, Kashani L, Aleyaseen A, et al. Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG. 2008;115(4):515-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01652.x
- Hausenblas Heather Ann, et al. A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Examining the Effectiveness of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes. J Integr Med. 2015 Jul; 13(4): 231-240.
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27.
- Mazidi M, Shemshian M, Mousavi SH, Norouzy A, Kermani T, Moghiman T, Sadeghi A, Mokhber N, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Ferns GA. A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the treatment of anxiety and depression. J Complement Integr Med. 2016;13(2):195.
- Moshiri M, Vahabzadeh M, Hosseinzadeh H. Clinical Applications of Saffron (Crocus sativus) and its Constituents: A Review. Drug Res (Stuttg). 2015 Jun;65(6):287-95.
- Shahmansouri N, Farokhnia M, Abbasi SH, et al. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. J Affect Disord. 2014 Feb;155:216-22.
- Talaei A, Hassanpour Moghadam M, Sajadi Tabassi SA, Mohajeri SA. Crocin, the main active saffron constituent, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial. J Affect Disord. 2015 Mar 15;174:51-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.11.035.
Writer Bio
Based in Richmond, Va., Tara Carson has written articles for editorial and corporate online and print publications for more than 10 years. She has experience as an adjunct professor of nutrition at Northwest Christian University and holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism and nutrition from Virginia Commonwealth University.