Saffron
Healing essence of saffron Antioxidant
Anti-cancer
Blood oxygenator
Crocus sativa
Saffron, a spice that has been used to give a unique flavor and a vivid yellow colour to many dishes, has been used for centuries in traditional medical systems to treat depression and other illnesses. Contemporary research has shown this spice to have valuable anti-depressant and anti-cancer properties.It is a yellow powder derived from the stigmata (styles) of the flowering bulb Crocus sativa and is cultivated on a commercial basis primarily in Iran and to a lesser extent in India, Spain and a few other countries. Prior to the advent of cheaper, synthetic food colourings, saffron was also grown in other European countries including England.
Medicinal properties
Depression
Although several other spices have demonstrated the potential to prevent and treat several neurological diseases saffron is the first to be tested as a treatment of depression in clinical trials.Clinical studies on patients with depression were conducted by doctors at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The double-blind, placebo controlled trials compared the effects of 30 mg per day of saffron powder to those of normal doses of two common anti-depressant drugs, fluoxetine (Prozac) and imipramine. In all three clinical trials they found that saffron was at least as effective as these two commonly used anti-depressant drugs in combating mild to moderate depression. This latest research shows that along with turmeric, rosemary, sage, cardamom and garlic we have yet another spice that can help with a neurological illness - in this case, depression. Depression affects all age groups but increases in incidence with age. In other words we can include it with other diseases associated with the aging process; such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer and others.
Cancer
A number of laboratory and animal studies have shown that saffron and its constituent compounds such as safranal, the crocins and crocetin have potent anti-cancer properties. They have demonstrated efficacy against breast, liver, colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells.
Circulation
Research shows that the compound crocetin enhances the diffusion of oxygen through liquids. In this context it has been shown to increase the uptake of oxygen from the lungs into the blood stream and it has the added benefit of enhancing blood flow to the brain.
Antioxidant activity
Like most spices, saffron has strong antioxidant activity. Along with the crocins it contains several other antioxidant carotinoid compounds such as zeaxanthin and lycopene.
Like many other spices saffron is certain to attract more scientific research. In the mean time, along with other spices, we can enjoy the flavour and colour of this interesting spice; knowing that it is keeping us happy while improving our circulation and reducing our risk of cancer.
Important phytonutrients
- Crocin is the carotinoid dye that gives saffron stigmata their dark brown colour and food cooked in this spice its characteristic yellow colour.
- Crocetin is the core molecule of crocin and is a very strong antioxidant
- Safranal and picrocrocin give saffron its characteristic odour and flavour
- Zeaxanthin and lycopene are two extensively studied, beneficial antioxidants that occur in other spices as well as several types of fruit and vegetables.
Scientific references
Cancer Detect Prev. 2004;28(6):426-32. Biomedical properties of saffron and its potential use in cancer therapy and chemoprevention trials.Abdullaev FI, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ.- BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004 Sep 2;4:12. Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a pilot double-blind randomized trial [ISRCTN45683816].Akhondzadeh S, Fallah-Pour H, Afkham K, Jamshidi AH, Khalighi-Cigaroudi F.
- Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2004;44(3):155-72. Crocetin from saffron: an active component of an ancient spice.Giaccio M.
- Exp Oncol. 2007 Sep;29(3):175-80. Crocin from Crocus sativus possesses significant anti-proliferation effects on human colorectal cancer cells.Aung HH, Wang CZ, Ni M, Fishbein A, Mehendale SR, Xie JT, Shoyama CY, Yuan CS.
- Phytother Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):148-51. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbala AA, Amini H, Fallah-Pour H, Jamshidi AH, Khani M.
- Urol J. 2008 Summer;5(3):161-7. Cytotoxic effect of saffron stigma aqueous extract on human transitional cell carcinoma and mouse fibroblast.Feizzadeh B, Afshari JT, Rakhshandeh H, Rahimi A, Brook A, Doosti H.
- J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Feb 28;97(2):281-4. Epub 2005 Jan 6. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot trial.
- Nutr Cancer. 1994;21(3):263-9. Influence of certain essential oils on carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes and acid-soluble sulfhydryls in mouse liver.
- Anticancer Res. 2007 Jan-Feb;27(1A):357-62. Inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation by style constituents of different Crocus species. Chryssanthi DG, Lamari FN, Iatrou G, Pylara A, Karamanos NK, Cordopatis P.
- Hum Exp Toxicol. 2006 Feb;25(2):79-84. Protective effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract against genetic damage induced by anti-tumor agents in mice.Premkumar K, Thirunavukkarasu C, Abraham SK, Santhiya ST, Ramesh A.
- Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2004 Jan-Mar;5(1):70-6. Saffron can prevent chemically induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.Das I, Chakrabarty RN, Das S.
- Acta Histochem. 2009 Mar 26. Saffron suppresses oxidative stress in DMBA-induced skin carcinoma: A histopathological study. Das I, Das S, Saha T.
- Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Nov;46(11):3443-7. Study of cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of saffron extract in human cancer cell lines.Tavakkol-Afshari J, Brook A, Mousavi SH.
- Toxicol In Vitro. 2003 Oct-Dec;17(5-6):731-6.Use of in vitro assays to assess the potential antigenotoxic and cytotoxic effects of saffron Abdullaev FI, Riverón-Negrete L, Caballero-Ortega H, Manuel Hernández J, Pérez-López I, Pereda-Miranda R, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ.
|
