Clinical evidence on the effects of saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) in anxiety and depression

Crocus sativus L., a member of the Iridaceae family, commonly known as saffron has very much popular as both medicine and spice. Earlier saffron was used as one of the important constituents in opioid preparations for pain relief. Its uses in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression are well documented. Depression can affect the quality of life of individuals by causing headaches, difficulty in thinking, and loss of interest. Many clinical trials have been conducted for evaluating the efficacy of saffron in depression cases. Almost fifty constituents of C. sativus L are well known. Few of the major constituents include crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal. In the present review, the main focus is on the antidepressant effects of saffron and its major constituents, in which it was found that saffron has substantial effects on depression and anxiety because of double-blind study the data can be trusted.