Evidence-Based Review – the Benefits of Saffron for Depression Treatment

Maria Inês Silva, Ana Isabel Fernandes Pereira, Georgiana Chiriac, Irina Cristóvão, Berta Catalão, Joana Oliveira, Sílvia Gonçalves

Keywords: “saffron”, “crocus sativus”, “depression”, “antidepressant”

Background:
The saffron has antidepressant properties, since its main components, crocin and safranal, inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Research questions:
The aim of this work is to verify the saffron´s benefits when used as a treatment for depressive syndrome and its impact on symptomatic improvement.

Method:
A bibliographic search was carried out with the MeSH terms “saffron” or “crocus sativus” AND “depression” or “antidepressant”. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled clinical trials (RCCT), cohort and case-control studies published between 2016 and 2021, in Portuguese and English, were included. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy was used to assign the levels of evidence and strength of recommendation.

Results:
Of the ninety articles found, we selected a RCCT, a systematic review, a meta-analysis and a guideline. There was symptomatic improvement with the use of saffron compared with placebo and with the evaluated antidepressants, namely, fluoxetine, imipramine, sertraline and citalopram. It was aimed that saffron is a safe alternative for postpartum depression treatment. There was no significant difference with regard to adverse effects. In mild to moderate depression, saffron is recommended as a third-line therapy, in monotherapy or adjuvant.

Conclusions:
There is current evidence that the use of saffron improves depressive symptoms, either as monotherapy or as an adjuvant treatment. The use of saffron had comparable effects with the antidepressants studied. However, more high-quality, larger and longer-lasting studies are needed to reach more robust conclusions about the benefit of using saffron in depression.

Points for discussion:
The saffron can be a safe and efficient therapy for depression treatment, but more studies are needed in this area.