Therapeutic Effects of Saffron and Its Components on Neurodegenerative Diseases Publisher

Summary: Research highlights saffron's potential to fight brain diseases like Alzheimer's by curbing inflammation & oxidative stress. More trials needed. #NeurodegenerativeDisease #HerbalMedicine

Hamedani SG¹ ; Pourmasoumi M² ; Zarifi SH³ ; Askari G^{4, 5} ; Jamialahmadi T⁶ ; Bagherniya M^{4, 5} ; Sahebkar A^{7, 8}
Source: Heliyon Published:2024

Abstract

Due to an increase in the number of older people in recent years, neurodegenerative diseases as the most important age-related neurological disorders are considered as a great threat to human health. The treatment strategies for these disorders are symptomatic and there is no known definitive treatment; however, recently, several studies have investigated the effectiveness of some herbs and their components in limiting the progression and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we searched Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords used in the search were: saffron [title/abstract] or (saffron compound [title/abstract]) and (neurological disorders [title/abstract]), publication date range (2010–2023), and language (English). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 articles remained. Of the 30 articles included in the study, six studies on the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders by saffron and its components were in the clinical trial phase, and 24 studies were in the preclinical phase. Saffron and its compounds can play an important role in inhibiting neuroinflammation and excitotoxic pathways, modulating autophagy and apoptosis, attenuating oxidative damage, and activating defensive antioxidant enzymes, resulting in neuroprotection against neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to review the studies on the effects of saffron and its compounds on the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. © 2024 The Authors