Journal
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
Volume 62, Issue 10, Pages 2683-2706Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1857682
Keywords
Saffron; Crocus sativus; traditional medicine; brain; nervous system; anxiety; stress
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Saffron is commonly used in traditional medicine and has been studied for its therapeutic effects on the nervous system. Its active constituents, including apocarotenoids, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phytosterols, have been shown to have neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, learning, and memory-enhancing effects.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L., family Iridaceae) is used traditionally for medicinal purpose in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Persian and Unani medicines. The bioactive constituents such as apocarotenoids, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and phytosterols are widely investigated in experimental and clinical studies for a wide range of therapeutic effects, especially on the nervous system. Some of the active constituents of saffron have high bioavailability and bioaccessibility and ability to pass the blood-brain barrier. Multiple preclinical and clinical studies have supported neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, learning and memory-enhancing effect of saffron and its bioactive constituents (safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin). Thus, this plant and its active compounds could be a beneficial medicinal food ingredient in the formation of drugs targeting nervous system disorders. This review focuses on phytochemistry, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity of phytochemicals in saffron. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of saffron against different nervous system disorders has also been discussed in detail.
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