Saffron

Stigma branches of the pistil of the true crocus flower. These are 2.5-4.5 cm long and are harvested as saffron. Collection time: spring. Saffron is known as a spice and because of its color as a coloring agent for food. As a children's song says: "Saffron makes the cake gel".

Saffron is harvested by hand: the tips of the pistils with the saffron threads attached are pinched off the flowers. For 500 g of saffron (dry weight), 200,000 to 400,000 stigmas are needed, which explains the high price of saffron threads, one of the most expensive spices ("red gold").

The quality of saffron (Croci stigma) is defined in the German Pharmaceutical Codex (DAC).

HMPC: not processed

ESCOP: not processed

Commission E: Negative monograph at the time (1987). Efficacy not scientifically proven, indication of abuse as an abortifacient at 10 g drug, lethal dose 20 g!

Empirical medicine: Nervous sedative, used for cramps and asthma. Saffron extracts are sold as "natural mood enhancers" in dietary supplements. Said to have a strong aphrodisiac effect.

Clinical studies indicate a mood-enhancing effect in mild to moderate forms of depression (Shafiee M et al 2018).

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Studies indicate positive effects in neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, as well as in cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases (El Midaoui A et al. 2022), diabetes management and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are conflicting results on the effects of saffron on sperm parameters, but promising for dysmenorrhea (Goyal A et al. 2024).

Placebo-controlled in vivo studies with a total of 379 participants showed an improvement in sleep duration and quality with saffron administration (Sadat Rafiei SK et al. 2023).

Carotenoids (crocin, crocetin), saffron bitters, isophorones, essential oils: safranal. Flavonoids; glycosides of kaempferol and many more.

Today almost only used in homeopathy, occasionally as a sedative, spasmolytic and stomachic.

Due to toxicity in higher doses, use only the intake of finished preparations, following the instructions for use. Maximum dose is 1 g per day.

Toxic in larger quantities: vomiting, uterine bleeding (formerly misused as an abortifacient), bloody diarrhea, hematuria, bleeding from nose and mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, yellowing of skin and mucous membranes. Lethal dose at 20 g.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/saffron.php
2. Shafiee M et al. (2018) Saffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action J Affect Disord. 227:330-337.
3. https://dgrh.de/start/publications/recommendations/complement%C3%A4re-methods/treatment-of-rheumatic-diseases-with-saffron.html
4. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 204-206
5. El Midaoui A et al (2022) Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): A Source of Nutrients for Health and for the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric and Age-Related Diseases. Nutrients. 29;14(3):597. doi: 10.3390/nu14030597. PMID: 35276955; PMCID: PMC8839854.

6. Sadat Rafiei SK et al. (2023) Saffron and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutr Metab Insights. 18;16:11786388231160317. doi: 10.1177/11786388231160317. PMID: 37484523; PMCID: PMC10357048.

7. Goyal A et al. (2024) Saffron extract as an emerging novel therapeutic option in reproduction and sexual health: recent advances and future prospects. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 4;86(5):2856-2865. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002013. PMID: 38694315; PMCID: PMC11060205.