Clinical Studies on Saffron

Saffron

 Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a premium spice extract traditionally used for supporting emotional balance and overall well-being through natural antioxidant and neurotransmitter-modulating properties.*

Summary of Research on Saffron 

Research has explored saffron’s role in supporting normal physiological processes related to mood balance, relaxation during occasional stress, restful sleep patterns, and cognitive wellness. Key areas of study include:

General Health-Promoting Properties

• Studies have investigated saffron’s potential to support normal physiological resilience, including contributions to everyday emotional well-being and vitality.*

• Links: 

• New horizons for the study of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its active ingredients in the management of neurological and psychiatric disorders: A systematic review of clinical evidence and mechanisms (Han et al., 2024)

•  Therapeutic potential of saffron in brain disorders: From bench to bedside (Bej et al., 2024)

• A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Examining the Effectiveness of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes (Hausenblas et al., 2017)

Mood and Emotional Well-Being

• Clinical investigations have examined saffron’s influence on normal mood pathways and emotional balance in healthy adults or those with everyday challenges.*

• Examples include controlled trials observing mood-related outcomes and psychological well-being.*

• Links:

• An Examination into the Effects of a Saffron Extract (Affron) on Mood and General Wellbeing in Adults Experiencing Low Mood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial (Lopresti et al., 2025)

• Effect of Saffron Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (Shafiee et al., 2025)

• InPACT 2023 - Book of Proceedings (Wright, 2023)

• (PDF) SAFFRON (Crocus sativus L.) AS A PROSPECTIVE AND SAFE NATURAL TREATMENT FOR MENTAL DISORDERS (Lykhovyd, 2022)

• Effects of Saffron Extract Supplementation on Mood, Well-Being, and Response to a Psychosocial Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Clinical Trial (Jackson et al., 2021)

• The Effects of a Saffron Extract (affron®) on Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Perimenopause: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study (Lopresti & Smith, 2021)

• Amelioration of anxiety, depression, and chemotherapy related toxicity after crocin administration during chemotherapy of breast cancer: A double blind, randomized clinical trial (Salek et al., 2021)

• The effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on mental health parameters and C-reactive protein: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (Ghaderi et al., 2020)

• Safety and Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for Treating Mild to Moderate Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Dai et al., 2020)

• Therapeutic effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) versus fluoxetine on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial  (Najafabadi et al., 2019)

• Effect of saffron supplementation on symptoms of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Marx et al., 2019)

• The Efficacy of Saffron in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Depression: A Meta-analysis (Toth et al., 2019)

• 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 (Lopresti et al., 2018)

• Saffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action (Shafiee et al., 2018)

• The effects of alcoholic extract of saffron (Crocus satious L.) on mild to moderate comorbid depression-anxiety, sleep quality, and life satisfaction in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial (Milajerdi et al., 2018)

• affron® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (Kell et al., 2017)

• A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) in mothers suffering from mild-to-moderate postpartum depression (Tabeshpour et al., 2017)

• Crocus sativus L. versus Citalopram in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress: A Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial (Ghajar et al., 2017)

• A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the treatment of anxiety and depression (Mazidi et al., 2016)

• Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action (Lopresti et al., 2014)

• Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot trial (Noorbala et al., 2005)

Restful Sleep Patterns

• Some research has examined saffron’s support for normal sleep architecture and restful patterns in healthy individuals or those with occasional sleep disruptions.*

  • Examples include trials assessing sleep parameters and overall restfulness.*

  • Links:

  • Effect of a saffron extract on sleep quality in adults with moderate insomnia: A decentralized, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Shuster et al., 2025)

  • A standardised saffron extract improves subjective and objective sleep quality in healthy older adults with sleep complaints: results from the gut-sleep-brain axis randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study (Lang et al., 2025)

  • Saffron and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials (Rafiei et al., 2023)

  • (PDF) SAFFRON (Crocus sativus L.) AS A PROSPECTIVE AND SAFE NATURAL TREATMENT FOR MENTAL DISORDERS (Lykhovyd, 2022)

  • Effects of saffron supplementation on improving sleep quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Lian et al., 2022)

  • Effects of Saffron Extract on Sleep Quality: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial (Pachikian et al., 2021)

  • An investigation into an evening intake of a saffron extract (affron®) on sleep quality, cortisol, and melatonin concentrations in adults with poor sleep: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose study (Lopresti et al., 2021)

  • The effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on mental health parameters and C-reactive protein: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (Ghaderi et al., 2020)

  • Effects of saffron on sleep quality in healthy adults with self-reported poor sleep: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Lopresti et al., 2020)

  • Improvement in Quality of Sleep by the Intake of Saffron—derived Crocin and Safranal―A Randomized, Double—blind, Placebo—controlled, Parallel—group Trial― (Takeda et al., 2020)

  • The effects of alcoholic extract of saffron (Crocus satious L.) on mild to moderate comorbid depression-anxiety, sleep quality, and life satisfaction in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial (Milajerdi et al., 2018)

Cognitive Function and Mental Clarity

• Some studies have explored saffron’s potential to support normal cognitive processes, attention, memory, and mental performance under everyday demands.*

  • Examples include assessments of cognitive tasks and executive function in healthy adults.*

  • Links:

  • InPACT 2023 - Book of Proceedings (Wright, 2023)

  • Saffron for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (Ayati et al., 2020)

  • Efficacy and Safety of Crocus sativus L. in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: One Year Single-Blind Randomized, with Parallel Groups, Clinical Trial (Tsolaki et al., 2016)

  • Comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with memantine in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease: a double-blind randomized clinical trial (Farokhnia et al., 2014)

  • Saffron in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 16-week, randomized and placebo-controlled trial (Akhondzadeh et al., 2010)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The summaries above reference general research on saffron and do not represent specific claims about NeuroVital Serenity. Consult a healthcare professional before use, and see full studies for details.