You may have heard of Saffron (Crocus sativus). If so, you’ll likely recognise it as an expensive little stringy fibre, called saffron ‘threads’, that comes in tiny jars, sold as a spice to add colour and flavour to cooking. These threads are actually the stigma (reproductive element) of the saffron flower. They are a bright orangey-yellow due to a high concentration of carotenoids (1). In fact, the name ‘Saffron’ is derived from the Arab word for yellow (1).

You may have wondered why saffron is so expensive. Harvesting the stigma is done meticulously by hand in order to preserve the constituents (plant chemicals) found in them. It is estimated it takes approximately 75,000 saffron blossoms to produce just one pound (454grams) of saffron (1). This gives you a sense as to why saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world.

Saffron has a sweet, floral and earthy flavour and while it is famous as a spice, it has also been used medicinally by many cultures including ancient Greece, the Middle East, China and Europe (1,2). Interestingly, many of the effects of saffron described in ancient texts has now been tested and confirmed by modern science. Modern herbalists are using saffron for its antidepressant, cognition enhancing, antioxidant and neuroprotective qualities.

Saffron for low mood and depression 

The scientific evidence of the use of saffron for depression has been growing over the past 20 years. A lot of the literature comes from Iran, where approximately 90% of the world’s saffron is cultivated (3). The evidence for using saffron for depression is strong and it has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of mild and moderate depression (4-6). Furthermore, when compared to fluoxetine (sold under the brand names Prosac and Sarafem), saffron was found to be as effective with no difference in side effects between the two (7-9). The main mechanisms of action for this effect are thought to include increased re-uptake inhibition of monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin), NMDA receptor antagonism, and GABA-α agonism (5,10). Saffron has also been studied for its ability to improve symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome with positive outcomes (11).

Saffron to enhance cognition and protect the brain & eyes

Saffron is often referred to as a nootropic. This is a term used to describe a drug that is used to enhance cognition and memory. For this reason, saffron has gained interest as a potential supplement to drug therapy for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinsons and Dementia. The antioxidant crocin, which is the primary colouring pigment in saffron, has multifunctional protective activities in the brain (12). Due to the high concentration of carotenoids, saffron is also being investigated for its role in improving age-related macular degeneration (13-16). More research is needed in this area to understand the mechanisms and effectiveness of saffron on neuroprotection and cognition but current preliminary studies are promising.

Saffron safety

As with any herb or drug it is important to understand the dosage guidelines when using saffron. Saffron has been used as a spice and food for centuries and is well tolerated. Many studies use a therapeutic dose of 30mg of saffron extract or around 90-180mg equivalent dry stigma per day and this is considered safe (17). Considering the chemical profile of saffron and its antidepressant qualities, using the herb alongside antidepressant, sedative and hypertensive medications should be carefully supervised. Always proceed with caution when taking therapeutic doses of herbal medicines alongside any medication. High doses of saffron are cautioned in pregnancy and lactation as studies confirming its safety are limited.