Saffron Extract
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Saffron Extract (Crocus sativus) is a dietary supplement with 12 published peer-reviewed studies involving 870 participants, researched for Mood & Depression, Anxiety Relief, Cognitive Function.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Mood & Depression
StrongAnxiety Relief
StrongCognitive Function
StrongResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Mood & Depression
To assess the effects of Crocus sativus (saffron) in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess the effects of Crocus sativus (saffron) in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
Dose
30 mg/day saffron extract
Participants
40 patients with mild to moderate depression
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Saffron produced significantly better outcome on HDRS than placebo (F=18.89, p<0.001) at 6 weeks.
How They Measured It
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
To assess the effects of saffron extract (Affron) on mood and well-being in adults experiencing low mood
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess the effects of saffron extract (Affron) on mood and well-being in adults experiencing low mood
Dose
28 mg/day Affron saffron extract
Participants
128 adults experiencing low mood
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Saffron extract significantly improved mood, positive affect, and reduced psychological distress vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Kessler-10 (K10), Profile of Mood States (POMS), positive affect
To systematically evaluate the effects of saffron on depressive symptoms vs placebo and antidepressants
Study Type
Meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials
Purpose
To systematically evaluate the effects of saffron on depressive symptoms vs placebo and antidepressants
Dose
Various
Participants
Multiple RCTs pooled
Duration
Various
Results
Saffron supplementation was significantly more effective than placebo and comparable to antidepressants for MDD.
How They Measured It
HDRS, MADRS, Beck Depression Inventory
To assess Crocus sativus on depression and food craving among overweight women with mild to moderate depression
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess Crocus sativus on depression and food craving among overweight women with mild to moderate depression
Dose
30 mg/day saffron extract
Participants
52 overweight women with mild-moderate depression
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Mean depression scores significantly decreased in saffron group vs placebo (-8.4 vs -3.9, p=0.007).
How They Measured It
HDRS, food craving questionnaire, body weight
To compare saffron with fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To compare saffron with fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression
Dose
30 mg/day saffron extract
Participants
40 depressed patients
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Saffron was as effective as fluoxetine in reducing depression scores, with comparable safety profile.
How They Measured It
HDRS, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Anxiety Relief
To assess the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression
Dose
14 mg twice daily saffron extract
Participants
128 adults with anxiety and depression
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Saffron extract significantly improved anxiety scores (HADS-A) and depression vs placebo (p<0.05).
How They Measured It
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), DASS-21
To assess saffron for anxiety in adolescents with mild anxiety and depressive symptoms
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess saffron for anxiety in adolescents with mild anxiety and depressive symptoms
Dose
14 mg twice daily
Participants
68 adolescents (12-16 years)
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Saffron supplementation significantly reduced anxiety scores in adolescents vs placebo (p<0.05).
How They Measured It
SCARED anxiety scale, Child Depression Rating Scale
To evaluate saffron supplementation on anxiety and sleep in adults
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate saffron supplementation on anxiety and sleep in adults
Dose
28 mg/day saffron
Participants
55 adults with mild anxiety
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Saffron significantly reduced anxiety scores and improved sleep quality vs placebo; lower salivary cortisol.
How They Measured It
GAD-7, Insomnia Severity Index, cortisol
Cognitive Function
To evaluate saffron supplementation on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate saffron supplementation on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Dose
30 mg/day saffron extract
Participants
46 Alzheimer's disease patients
Duration
16 weeks
Results
Saffron supplementation significantly improved ADAS-cog scores comparable to donepezil, with better safety profile.
How They Measured It
ADAS-cog, MMSE
To assess saffron effect on age-related macular degeneration and visual function
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess saffron effect on age-related macular degeneration and visual function
Dose
20 mg/day saffron
Participants
25 AMD patients
Duration
3 months
Results
Saffron supplementation significantly improved retinal function (flicker sensitivity) in early AMD patients.
How They Measured It
Visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, flicker sensitivity
To evaluate saffron supplementation on subjective sleep quality
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate saffron supplementation on subjective sleep quality
Dose
14 mg twice daily saffron
Participants
63 adults with insomnia
Duration
28 days
Results
Saffron significantly improved PSQI total score and sleep efficiency vs placebo.
How They Measured It
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), actigraphy
To evaluate saffron effects on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate saffron effects on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
Dose
30 mg/day saffron capsules
Participants
50 women with PMS
Duration
2 menstrual cycles
Results
Saffron significantly reduced PMS symptoms including mood symptoms, irritability, and anxiety vs placebo.
How They Measured It
DRSP (Daily Record of Severity of Problems)
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Saffron Extract research
There are currently 12 peer-reviewed studies on Saffron Extract (Crocus sativus), involving 870 total participants. Research covers Mood & depression, Anxiety relief, Cognitive function. The overall evidence strength is rated as Very Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Very Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (12 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Saffron Extract has been researched for: Mood & depression, Anxiety relief, Cognitive function. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 12 out of 12 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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