Saffron in phytotherapy: Pharmacology and clinical uses
Abstract
Saffron (stigmata of Crocus sativus L.) has been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. Throughout history, uses against cancer and depressive mood can regularly be identified. These applications have also been in the focus of modern research. Promising and selective anti-cancer effects have been observed in vitro and in vivo, but not yet in clinical trials. Antidepressant effects were found in vivo and in clinical pilot studies. Saffron extracts thus have the potential to make a major contribution to rational phytotherapy.
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Saffron is generally a safe medication but there are some reports of adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding after high-dose saffron use.
“It is generally a safe medication but there are some reports of some adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding after high-dose saffron use (Schmidt et al. 2007;Modaghegh et al. 2008).”
From <i>Crocus sativus</i> L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Study (2019) · cites this paper as Schmidt et al. 2007
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Akhondzadeh, S., Tahmacebi‐Pour, N., Noorbala, A., Amini, H., Fallah‐Pour, H., Jamshidi, A., & Khani, M. (2005) · Phytotherapy Research · doi:10.1002/ptr.1647 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
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Natural compounds for cancer treatment and prevention
Nobili, S., Lippi, D., Witort, E., Donnini, M., Bausi, L., Mini, E., & Capaccioli, S. (2009) · Pharmacological Research · doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2009.01.017 · Cited by 780 · see citing works
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Ghajar, A., Neishabouri, S., Velayati, N., Jahangard, L., Matinnia, N., Haghighi, M., Ghaleiha, A., Afarideh, M., Salimi, S., Meysamie, A., et al. (2017) · Pharmacopsychiatry · doi:10.1055/s-0042-116159 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Baziar, S., Aqamolaei, A., Khadem, E., Mortazavi, S. H., Naderi, S., Sahebolzamani, E., Mortezaei, A., Jalilevand, S., Mohammadi, M.-R., Shahmirzadi, M., et al. (2019) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1089/cap.2018.0146 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
- Authors
- Schmidt, M., Betti, G., & Hensel, A.
- Affiliations
- Praxis für Humangenetik Tübingen (DE)
- University of Münster (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schmidt, Mathias
- Venue
- Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift
- Published
- 2007-07
- Volume
- 157
- Issue
- 13-14
- Pages
- 315-9
- ISSN
- 0043-5341 (ISSN-L)
- 1563-258X
- OpenAlex
- W1483936248
- Cited by
- 365
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 0.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Saffron Plant Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
- Keywords
- saffron, herbal medicine, pharmacology, anticancer effects, antidepressant effects, depressive mood, medicinal plants, clinical application
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Clinical Trials as Topic, Depression, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Ice, Learning, Phytotherapy, Memory, Neoplasms, Plant Extracts, Research, Safety, Time Factors, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Crocus
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