Therapeutic Application of Saffron for Improvement of Women’s Health: A Review of Literature

Abstract

Saffron or crocus sativus L. (C. sativus) has been widely used as a food additive as well as a therapeutic agent in traditional medicine for centuries, especially in Asian countries. This spice consists of three bioactive components, including picrocrocin, safranal, and crocin, which exert alleviating effects in a wide range of disorders (e.g.cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurodegenerative, psychiatric and female-specific disorders). Anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative characteristics were reported for this herbal agent. Additionally, several studies have addressed the potential role of saffron in modulating the serotonergic system, which could be helpful in treatment of some diseases specific to women such as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Postpartum Depression (PPD), postmenopausal symptoms, and sexual dysfunction. Nowadays, use of herbal medicine instead of chemical prescriptions has become very popular due to their generally lesser side effects and cultural acceptability. In the present report, we provided an overview of the current literature regarding the potential effects of saffron on women’s health. Taken together, saffron seems a spice with strong beneficial impacts on various aspects that a woman might challenge with. Further trials could pave the way for the introduction of saffron as a routine safe treatment of aforementioned conditions in women population.