7 Health Benefits of Saffron

Saffron is a golden red/orange, exotic smelling, versatile spice, food flavoring, and food coloring that is commonly used in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian cuisines. But powdered saffron, also called the sunshine spice, is not only used to add flavor to food. This Iranian herbal drug is also believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Please continue reading to learn more about the medicinal properties and health benefits of saffron and whether it is worthwhile taking saffron supplements.

What is saffron crocus?

Saffron comes from the Crocus sativus l plant, which is also called saffron crocus. Each flower of the saffron plant has a few saffron threads called stigma, which need to be hand-picked and dried to produce a saffron extract. Because it requires labor-intensive harvesting, saffron is an expensive spice. One gram of pure saffron can set you back by $10 or more, depending on the origin and quality. Saffron is grown mainly in Iran but also in India, Afghanistan, Morocco, and parts of Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece, and France).

Saffron has a brilliant golden orange-red color and a subtle bittersweet taste. The rich taste and aroma make it a popular addition to food. However, some people take saffron supplementation for its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects.

What does saffron aqueous extract do to the body?

Antioxidant properties

Studies have shown that saffron has antioxidant properties. It is rich in substances called carotenoids (crocin, crocetin), picrocrocin, and safranal, which can neutralize free radicals and protect the body’s cells against oxidative stress.

Anti-inflammatory properties

The crocins found in saffron have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds stop the release of cyclooxygenases, prostaglandins, and other inflammatory markers, which cause an inflammatory reaction in the body.

What is saffron good for medically?

Some of the health effects of saffron are listed below. Keep in mind that many of these health benefits are based on experiments in laboratory animals or small randomized clinical trials in humans. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm that saffron is actually beneficial for these health conditions. Potential health benefits of saffron include:

Neuropsychiatric diseases

Saffron may relieve depression symptoms. It has also been found to help patients with anxiety and schizophrenia.

A randomized controlled trial found that taking 50 mg of saffron provided significant relief from mild to moderate depression symptoms compared to a placebo.

In terms of parts of the saffron plant, the stigma (saffron strands) were found to be significantly more effective than a placebo and equally effective as antidepressant medications like fluoxetine (Prozac) and imipramine (Tofranil). Saffron flower petals were also significantly more effective than a placebo and equally effective as the stigma and the antidepressant drug fluoxetine.

Neurodegenerative diseases

One of the potential health benefits of saffron extract is in patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Saffron constituents have been found to cross the blood-brain barrier and have positive effects on the central nervous system.

A double-blind-placebo-controlled study showed that 30 mg per day of saffron supplementation for 16 weeks improved cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. After 22 weeks, follow-up showed that saffron was equally effective as the Alzheimer’s drug donepezil and that donepezil caused more side effects (vomiting).

Cardiovascular diseases

Studies have shown that saffron extract has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as antihypertensive and hypolipidemic effects (it helps in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels). Also, saffron elevates insulin sensitivity, suppresses appetite, and improves central obesity. Its effects on the heart and blood vessels may help to prevent and treat coronary artery disease.

A randomized clinical controlled trial found that 15 mg of saffron supplementation per day for 12 weeks significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose levels (blood sugar), hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and LDL/HDL ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to the placebo group.

Ocular diseases

Saffron may help patients with ocular (eye) conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa.

One study found that oral aqueous saffron extract helped to lower intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. A placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that treatment with 20 mg per day of saffron improved findings on testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration. After 14 months, follow-up of these patients showed ongoing improvement in visual acuity with saffron treatment. However, these improvements were found to be modest at best by another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A longer study is required to confirm whether saffron can significantly delay the progression of chronic eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.

Cancer

Saffron’s antioxidant properties and significant anti-proliferation effects on cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed have led to great interest in studying this ancient spice in people with cancer. It is being studied for its effects against human colorectal cancer cells (colon cancer cells), breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other types of cancer through animal studies in the laboratory.

Premenstrual syndrome

Saffron may be used to treat PMS symptoms. A randomized controlled trial in women with premenstrual syndrome compared 20 mg of the antidepressant drug fluoxetine taken twice daily, 15 mg of saffron taken twice daily, and a placebo for 2 weeks during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The results showed that saffron extracts were superior to the placebo in treating PMS symptoms. While fluoxetine also improved PMS symptoms, it also caused more side effects.

Sexual dysfunction

Studies have found that saffron consumption may have a positive effect in men with erectile dysfunction. It is also believed to have aphrodisiac properties and may improve semen parameters. Saffron has been found to effectively treat fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment. However, these effects of saffron are based on small studies and need to be confirmed by larger controlled trials.

Is it good to take saffron daily?

It is safe to eat saffron daily in small amounts as a food flavoring. You can use this versatile spice to add taste, flavor, and aroma to your food, especially rice dishes. Soaking saffron threads in hot water is the best way to draw out the flavor of this expensive spice. You can also consume saffron by adding a pinch of saffron to a glass of milk to make saffron milk. Make sure you only use a small amount because too much saffron can give the food an unpalatable taste. Saffron is also available in supplement form.

How much saffron should you take?

When used in small amounts for cooking purposes, saffron is generally safe and causes little to no side effects. Saffron supplements up to doses of 1,500 mg per day are considered safe. However, you can get the health benefits of saffron from doses as low as 30 mg per day.

Make sure you purchase high-quality pure saffron from a trusted brand. Cheap saffron powder is likely to be adulterated and may cause harm. Saffron strands are less likely to be adulterated than saffron powder.

Always check with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements, including saffron supplements. Saffron supplementation may not be safe for everyone. Also, keep in mind that saffron supplements are not a substitute for prescribed medical or surgical treatments for any health condition.

Who should not take saffron extract?

Pregnant women should not take saffron without talking to their healthcare provider. At high doses of 5 grams per day or more, saffron may be toxic and can induce uterine contractions and miscarriage.

Additionally, people who have had allergic reactions to saffron extracts or saffron supplements in the past should not take any form of saffron.

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