Saffron compounds and age-related and brain diseases
What it found
Saffron and its main compounds have been tested in people, animals and lab cells for effects on depression, anxiety, heart disease, eye disease, dementia and muscle weakness.
Many of the results come from animal or lab studies, with some human trials also reported.
What they found
Studies in people
Depression in people
A randomised controlled trial found that 50 mg of saffron significantly decreased Beck depression and anxiety inventory scores compared with placebo. Another trial found greater improvement in depressive symptoms when saffron was combined with curcumin than with placebo.
Blood pressure in people
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that 400 mg of saffron for seven days decreased systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in healthy people. A 12-week study found that 200 mg of saffron per day improved blood pressure in elderly people with hypertension.
Cholesterol and blood fats
A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found that saffron supplementation reduced serum triglycerides and total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol. In a randomised trial, crocins at 30 mg per day for 8 weeks decreased oxidised LDL and MCP-1 levels in patients with coronary artery disease.
Type-2 diabetes in people
A randomised double-blind clinical trial found that 15 mg of saffron per day for 3 months significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio in people with type-2 diabetes. Other clinical studies did not all find the same results, which the authors link to different doses, durations and groups of people.
Alzheimer's disease in people
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that 30 mg of saffron per day for 16 weeks improved cognitive function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. A follow-up found saffron was as effective as donepezil, with similar side effects except vomiting, which was more frequent in the donepezil group.
Eye disease in people
In a placebo-controlled study, 20 mg of saffron per day improved focal electroretinogram findings in patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 14 months of ongoing treatment improved visual acuity and fERG parameters. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial found only modest improvement in visual function.
Muscle strength in people
A study of 28 healthy men found that 300 mg of saffron per day for 10 days increased muscle strength and improved reaction time, and improved mitochondrial function and blood flow to muscles during exercise.
Animal and lab studies
Heart and artery effects in animals
In rats, saffron and safranal showed heart-protective effects against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction, and saffron reduced fatal ventricular arrhythmia in ischemia-reperfusion models. In rabbits on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, crocetin reduced LDL oxidation and the progression of aortic atherosclerotic lesions.
Studies in people and animals
Schizophrenia in people
In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, saffron aqueous extract and crocins given for 12 weeks were found to be well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia. Animal studies reported that crocins improved schizophrenia negative symptoms and reduced ketamine-induced effects in rats.
Other findings
How saffron compounds behave in the body
Pharmacokinetic studies show that crocins are not available in the blood after being taken by mouth. They are converted into crocetin in the intestine, but crocetin levels in plasma are low, though crocetin can reach the brain and a large amount of crocins is eliminated in the feces.
What the authors conclude
“Saffron's rich phytochemical profile provides a promising approach in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases, thus reinforcing the interest for this medicinal plant.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say saffron's rich phytochemical profile provides a promising approach in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
- They state that saffron and especially its main constituent molecules exert beneficial effects on frequent neuropsychiatric and age-related diseases.
- They conclude that clarifying the molecular mechanisms will make it possible to optimize their effectiveness and rationalize their use for the benefit of human health.
How it was done
The authors say saffron is undergoing a revival of interest, and they wanted to present the beneficial effects of saffron and its main molecules on neuropsychiatric diseases and the most frequent age-related diseases.
They gathered and described published studies on saffron and its main compounds, including crocins, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. The studies they describe include lab tests on cells, experiments in rats and mice, and human trials of various sizes and lengths.
What it can’t tell you
- Many of the findings described come from animal or lab cell studies, which cannot show what happens in people.
- Some human trials were small or short, and the authors note that results on glucose control differed between clinical studies.
- The review describes published studies and does not present new experiments of its own.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Montreal, Canada; Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Morocco; Ibn Tofail University, Morocco
The paper
- Title
- Saffron ( Crocus sativus L.): A Source of Nutrients for Health and for the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric and Age-Related Diseases
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- El Midaoui A, Ghzaiel I, Vervandier-Fasseur D, et al (2022). Saffron ( Crocus sativus L.): A Source of Nutrients for Health and for the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric and Age-Related Diseases. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14030597Free full textPubMed 35276955DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error