Saffron
Crocus sativus L.Iridaceae // stigmas
Overview
Plant parts
stigmas
Known constituents
crocin, crocetin, safranal
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include crocin; crocetin; safranal; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Saffron has been used for mood; menstrual complaints; flavoring; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (mood; menstrual complaints; flavoring), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Moderate but still limited meta-analytic evidence for depressive symptoms; trials are small and short.
MODERATE · systematic review/meta-analysis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is stigmas; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include High amounts can cause bleeding, uterine stimulation and toxicity. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy; bleeding disorders; bipolar disorder caution.
HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Potential additive serotonergic, anticoagulant and BP-lowering effects.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Food amounts differ; avoid medicinal amounts in pregnancy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Possible adulterantSafflower
Safflower material/colorants are documented botanical adulterants of powdered saffron.
Why it matters: Adulteration dilutes or replaces Crocus stigmas and invalidates identity, composition, and dosing.
HIGH · Detection of botanical adulterants in saffron powder
- Possible adulterantTurmeric
Turmeric material/colorants are documented botanical adulterants of powdered saffron.
Why it matters: Adulteration dilutes or replaces Crocus stigmas and invalidates identity, composition, and dosing.
HIGH · Detection of botanical adulterants in saffron powder
Botanical synonym
Crocus officinalis Huds.
Taxonomic identity note
- Saffron is treated here as Crocus sativus L. in the family Iridaceae; recorded older names include Crocus officinalis Huds..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
EMA monograph
NIH LiverTox monograph
peer-reviewed food-authentication paper
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
WHO monograph