ABSTRACT
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a popular spice belonging to the crocus-related family Iridaceae and has been a culinary staple for thousands of years. Saffron is one of the most expensive spices, originating in the Middle East, Central Asia, Mediterranean, and Greece. In traditional and modern medicine, saffron is considered a unique herb with enormous health benefits. For example, saffron exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulating, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, and antidiabetic properties. It has attracted significant attention in preventing and treating several human conditions, including cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, neurological disorders, psychological conditions, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and other diseases. This review discusses the potential beneficial effects of saffron and its primary bioactive constituent, particularly crocin, on different aspects of human health and a wide range of disorders. Results of randomized clinical controlled trials indicated that saffron might use as a natural, safe, and accessible agent to treat several conditions, especially mental disorders such as depression. It also can be used as a safe agent to increase the quality of sleep and life. The beneficial effects of saffron on metabolic and chronic diseases were also shown, though the number of clinical trials is insufficient to make a definitive conclusion. In addition, some adverse effects, particularly gastrointestinal side effects, were reported by some of the studies. Future studies should focus on the optimum dose, differences between saffron and crocin, the best duration for intervention, and identify the potential adverse effects regarding supplementation with saffron/crocin in different diseases.
