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SAFFRON

What's all the Hype about?

saffron flower and spices, beautiful high quality_edited.jpg

Parts of the Saffron Plant and Their Benefits

 

1. Red Stigmas (Most Beneficial)

  • What it is: The thin, red filaments (dried) that are hand-harvested — this is the true “saffron spice.”

  • Key active compounds:

    • Crocin & crocetin → carotenoids responsible for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant effects.

    • Safranal → volatile oil contributing to mood, cognition, and sleep benefits.

    • Picrocrocin → precursor of safranal, contributes to flavor and some bioactivity.

  • Evidence:

    • Clinical trials for depression, anxiety, cognition, PMS, appetite control all use standardized extracts from stigmas (Hausenblas et al., 2015; Lopresti et al., 2018; Marx et al., 2019).

✅ Conclusion: Stigmas are the gold-standard source for supplementation and clinical benefits.

 

2. Yellow Styles

  • What it is: The thread-like part that connects the stigmas to the ovary.

  • Compounds: Much lower levels of crocin, crocetin, and safranal compared to stigmas.

  • Use: Sometimes used as an adulterant or filler — not the main therapeutic component.

⚠️ Conclusion: Not recommended for supplementation (weaker bioactive profile).

 

3. Petals (By-products)

  • What they contain: Anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics.

  • Evidence:

    • Preliminary studies suggest antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti-anxiety effects (Srivastava et al., 2010).

    • However, clinical trials are rare, and potency is much lower than stigmas.

➖ Conclusion: Interesting for sustainability and food/nutraceutical development, but not equivalent to stigma extracts.

 

4. Corms (Bulbs)

  • What they are: Underground storage part of the plant.

  • Use: Mainly for propagation, not supplementation. Some traditional medicine uses, but not clinically validated for ED, mood, or cognitive benefits.

 

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Most benefits come from the red stigmas — this is the clinically validated part used in nearly all human trials.

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Best Form of Saffron for Supplementation

 

🌿 Standardized Extracts vs. Raw Powder

  • Raw saffron spice (threads/powder) contains variable amounts of bioactives and is expensive to dose effectively. Not reliable for consistent supplementation.

  • Standardized extracts are preferred in clinical trials because they ensure a consistent amount of active compounds, mainly crocin, crocetin, safranal, and picrocrocin.

 

✅ Best-Supported Forms

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  1. Affron® (standardized extract)

    • Derived from stigma of saffron, standardized to >3.5% lepticrosalides (safranal & crocin derivatives).

    • Multiple RCTs show benefits for mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents and adults at 28–30 mg/day (Lopresti et al., 2018; Marx et al., 2019).

  2. Safr’Inside® (bioavailable extract)

    • Standardized to safranal, uses a gentle extraction to preserve volatile compounds.

    • Clinical studies suggest improvements in mood, sleep, and stress with 28 mg/day (Hausenblas et al., 2015).

  3. Generic saffron extract (standardized to ≥3% crocin or safranal)

    • Used in many Iranian clinical trials.

    • Typical dose: 30 mg/day (often split into 15 mg twice daily).

    • Comparable efficacy to SSRIs (fluoxetine, imipramine) in mild-to-moderate depression (Akhondzadeh et al., 2005; Noorbala et al., 2005).

 

⚠️ Considerations

  • Dosage range: Most evidence supports 28–30 mg/day of standardized extract.

  • Safety: Generally well tolerated; mild side effects can include nausea, headache, or drowsiness. Very high intakes (>5 g/day raw saffron) may be toxic.

  • Form factor: Capsules with standardized extract are best for precision and compliance.

  • Duration: Benefits are usually seen within 4–6 weeks.

 

✅ Practical Recommendation

  • Use a standardized saffron extract supplement (28–30 mg/day).

  • Choose Affron® or Safr’Inside® if available, as they are the most clinically studied branded extracts.

  • Avoid relying on culinary saffron powder or teas for therapeutic effects—they’re not standardized and require impractical amounts.

 

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Brands Using Clinically Validated Standardized Extracts

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These products contain Affron® or similarly standardized saffron extracts, offering consistency in active compounds like crocin and safranal and replicating the dosages used in clinical trials.

These forms provide reliability and consistency, matching protocols from RCTs.

 

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High-Dose, Well-Reviewed Saffron Extracts (≈ 88–90 mg/day)

 

These brands deliver high-potency saffron extracts (often around 88.5 mg per capsule), frequently standardized to safranal or crocin levels.

  • Nutricost Saffron Extract (88.5 mg)
    Affordable, vegan, non‑GMO, and widely available. Frequently cited for value. 

  • Double Wood Saffron Extract (88.5 mg, standardized to 0.3% safranal)
    Large bottle (210 capsules), GMP-certified, great for mood and appetite control. 

  • Pure Micronutrients Saffron Extract (88.5 mg)
    High potency, third-party tested, allergen‑free, supports mood, energy, eye and heart health. 

  • Nuzena Saffron Super Spice+ (≈ 88.25 mg, 0.3% safranal)
    Premium purity, strong reputation, ideal for mood, cognitive, and sexual health. 

  • Life Extension Optimized Saffron (88.25 mg, 0.3% safranal)
    Precisely standardized, reputable brand, supports cognition and mood. 

  • Lukaree Saffron Capsules (88.5 mg, 2% safranal)
    Transparent formula, GMP-certified, third-party tested, strong anxiety/mood profile. 

  • Approved Science Saffron (30 mg standardized extract, 3% crocins, 2% safranal). Includes BioPerine® for enhanced absorption, cGMP-certified, with robust quality controls. 

 

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Summary:

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  • For clinically backed consistency: Go with Affron®-containing supplements (like AOR or Nullure).

  • For high potency within proven therapeutic range: Choose 88–90 mg formulations from trusted brands like Nutricost, Double Wood, Pure Micronutrients, or Nuzena.

  • For clean, transparent, and high-safranal formulas: Consider Lukaree or Approved Science.

  • Ensure quality: Look for non-GMO, vegan, GMP certification, and third-party testing (recommended by multiple sources). 

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References:

  1. Hausenblas, H. A., Saha, D., Dubyak, P. J., & Anton, S. D. (2015). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 13(4), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60188-2

  2. Lopresti, A. L., Drummond, P. D., & Inarejos-García, A. M. (2018). Affron®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 282–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.011

  3. Marx, W., Lane, M., Rocks, T., Ruusunen, A., Loughman, A., Lopresti, A. L., … Jacka, F. (2019). Effect of saffron supplementation on symptoms of depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 77(8), 557–571. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz023

  4. Srivastava, R., Ahmed, H., Dixit, R. K., Dharamveer, S., & Saraf, S. A. (2010). Crocus sativus L.: A comprehensive review. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 4(8), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.70919

  5. Akhondzadeh, S., Fallah-Pour, H., Afkham, K., Jamshidi, A. H., & Khalighi-Cigaroudi, F. (2005). Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A pilot double-blind randomized trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-5-12

  6. Hausenblas, H. A., Saha, D., Dubyak, P. J., & Anton, S. D. (2015). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 13(4), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60188-2

  7. Lopresti, A. L., Drummond, P. D., & Inarejos-García, A. M. (2018). Affron®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 239, 282–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.011

  8. Marx, W., Lane, M., Rocks, T., Ruusunen, A., Loughman, A., Lopresti, A. L., … Jacka, F. (2019). Effect of saffron supplementation on symptoms of depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 77(8), 557–571. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz023

  9. Noorbala, A. A., Akhondzadeh, S., Tahmacebi-Pour, N., & Jamshidi, A. H. (2005). Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: A double-blind, randomized pilot trial. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 97(2), 281–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.004

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