Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus, L.) is a culinary spice widely used in Middle Eastern dishes. It has also
been used in traditional Persian medicine to relieve stomachaches, ease the pain of kidney
stones, and treat depression. In traditional Chinese system, saffron was used as an agent to
improve blood circulation and cure the bruise. [4] Some studies suggest that saffron may also
have benefits of anticancer and memory-enhancing activities.

Health Benefits of Saffron and Its Extracts
Some studies suggest saffron extracts may have benefits of memory-enhancing, anti-cancer and
anti-oxidative activities. [2] Saffron may be able to against lots of cancers such as leukemia,
ovarian carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, papilloma, squamous cell
carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.  [4] In vitro study, sacrcoma's effect on carcinoma, sarcoma
and leukemia cells is dose-dependent. In a study of rats, saffron delays tumor growth and
increase the life span of the animals. It also delays the onset of papilloma growth and decreases
the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. A study indicates its effect
may be related to a significant inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis. It appears that saffron
(dimethyl-crocetin) disrupts the DNA-protein interactions e.g. topoisomerases II, which is
important for cellular DNA synthesis. [5] It is believed that crocetin and / or crocin attribute(s) such
activity. Please, note that these are either animal or in vitro studies, clinical studies are needed to
support saffron health benefits.

Research studies about saffron benefits on cancer
A recent study reports that crocetin is an anti-tumor agent in animal models and cell culture
systems. It affects the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis, enhancing
anti-oxidative system, inducing apoptosis and hindering growth factor signaling pathways.
[Gutheil WG et al, Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2011 Apr 5.]

In a study, rats were treated with diethylnitrosamine as to induce liver cancer Administration of
saffron at doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day was started 2 weeks prior to the
diethylnitrosamine injection and was continued for 22 weeks. Saffron significantly reduced the
number and the incidence of hepatic dyschromatic nodules. [Amin A et al, Hepatology. 2011 May
23. doi: 10.1002/hep.24433]

Another study demonstrates that crocin induces apoptosis and G1-phase cell cycle arrest of
human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 cells! The study shows the effect of crocin (cell
viability) is dose and time dependent  [Bakshi H, et  al, Asian Pac J Cancer Prev.
2010;11(3):675-9.]

Similarly, ethanolic extract of saffron also decreases cell viability in malignant lung cancer cells as
a concentration and time-dependent manner, in another study.  [Samarghandian S et al,
Pharmacogn Mag. 2010 Oct;6(24):309-14.]

Crocetin benefits - atherosclerosis
Crocetin is a carotenoid (8,8'-diapo-8,8'-carotenoic acid) with seven double bonds and four
methyl groups. It contributes the most health benefits of saffron. In addition to its effect on cancer
cells, crocetin also enhances the oxygen diffusivity through plasma and other liquids, increases
alveolar oxygen transport and enhance pulmonary oxygenation. In study of hemorrhaged rats,
crocetin improves cerebral oxygenation and shows benefits on the atherosclerosis and arthritis
treatment. In other animal studies, crocetin inhibits skin tumor promotion. [1,3]

Saffron benefits - neurodegenerative Disorders
Saffron extract, crocetin and crocin may have benefits on people suffered from
neurodegenerative disorders accompanying memory impairment. [2,7]

In a study, the effects of a daily, 7-day, intraperitoneal administration of saffron on cognitive
functions were examined in both healthy adult (4 months old) and aged (20 months old), male
Balb-c mice (n=8/group), by passive avoidance test. Results showed that saffron-treated mice
exhibited significant improvement in learning and memory, accompanied by reduced lipid
peroxidation products, higher total brain antioxidant activity and reduced caspase-3 activity in
both age groups of mice. [Papandreou MA, et al, Behav Brain Res. 2011 Jun 1;219(2):197-204.]

In studies of mice, saffron extract improved ethanol-induced impairments of learning behaviors
and prevented ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (related to
learning and memory abilities). Researchers believe that crocin may attribute this effect. [2]

Saffron benefits - major depression
Several human clinical trials provide preliminary positive evidence of antidepressant effects of
saffron. [Sarris J et al, Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 May 20]

Saffron extract and crocin benefits - oxidative stress
Rats were injected with saffron extract, crocin or vehicle over a period of 21days while being
exposed to chronic restraint stress (6h/day). After this, they were trained and tested on a
water-maze spatial memory task. Saffron and crocin prevented the impairment of learning and
memory as well as the oxidative stress damage to the hippocampus induced by chronic stress.
[Ghadrdoost B, et al, Eur J Pharmacol. 2011 May 18.]

Crocin benefits - high lipid levels
In a study of hyperlipemia rats, crocin decreased cholesterol, triglyceride and density lipoprotein
levels, and increased the content of high density lipoprotein. Researchers believe that crocin
prevents atherosclerosis in hyperlipemia, via inhibition of both proliferation of smooth muscle
cells and activation of p38MAPK. [6]

Toxicity and Side effects of Saffron
Saffron has low biochemical toxic effects on animals. [4]

What is saffron use for? Chemotherapy? There are piles of evidence of saffron benefits
on cancers, however, clinical support is needed to verify the claim.


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[1] Giaccio M. Crocetin from saffron: an active component of an ancient spice. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.
2004;44(3):155-72. [2] Abe K, Saito H., Effects of saffron extract and its constituent crocin on learning behaviour and
long-term potentiation. Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):149-52. [3] Abdullaev FI, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ. Biomedical
properties of saffron and its potential use in cancer therapy and chemoprevention trials. Cancer Detect Prev.
2004;28(6):426-32. [4] Deng Y, Guo ZG, Zeng ZL, Wang Z. Studies on the pharmacological effects of saffron(Crocus
sativus L.)--a reviewZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2002 Aug;27(8):565-8. [5] Nair SC et al, Saffron chemoprevention in
biology and medicine: a review. Cancer Biother. 1995 Winter;10(4):257-64. [6] Xu GL et al, Study of the effect of
crocin on rat experimental hyperlipemia and the underlying mechanismsZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005
Mar;30(5):369-72. [7] Hosseinzadeh H, et al, Safranal, a constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron), attenuated cerebral
ischemia induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005 Aug 22;8(3):394-9.
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