Safety evaluation of saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract and crocin in patients with schizophrenia

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, P.O.Box: 1985713834, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O.Box: 14115-111, Tehran, Iran

3 Clinical psychiatry research center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: Saffron is the stigma of Crocus sativus L., which has the potentials to play a role in the treatment of many diseases. Although many researches are now going on this precious spice, there are few data on saffron safety in human, especially in patients with chronic mental illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term safety and tolerability of both saffron and crocin (its major constituent) in adult patients with schizophrenia.
Materials and Methods: The capsules of saffron aqueous extract (SAE) and crocin were used to evaluate short-term safety and tolerability in patients with schizophrenia. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed on patients with schizophrenia. The patients were all male and were divided into three 22-patient groups. While receiving their normal treatment, they also received a 12 week treatment with SAE (15 mg twice daily), crocin (15 mg twice daily) or placebo.
Results: A total of 61 patients completed the trial; none of them reported a serious side effect. WBC count increased significantly in patients receiving saffron aqua extract (SAE), but it was within the normal range and had no clinical significance. Other hematologic components, markers of thyroid, liver and kidney or inflammation markers had no statistically significant difference among the groups.
Conclusions: This study showed that SAE and crocin in doses of 15 mg twice daily were safely tolerated in patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Akhondzadeh S, Sabet MS, Harirchian MH, Togha M, Cheraghmakani H, Razeghi S, Hejazi S, Yousefi MH, Alimardani R, Jamshidi A, Zare F , Moradi A. 2010. Saffron in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 16-week, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther, 35: 581-588.
Akhondzadeh S, Shafiee Sabet M, Harirchian MH, Togha M, Cheraghmakani H, Razeghi S, Hejazi SS, Yousefi MH, Alimardani R, Jamshidi A, Rezazadeh SA, Yousefi A, Zare F, Moradi A ,Vossoughi A. 2010. A 22-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled trial of Crocus sativus in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 207: 637-643.
Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbala AA, Amini H, Fallah-Pour H, Jamshidi AH , Khani M. 2005. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res, 19: 148-151.
Ayatollahi H, Javan AO, Khajedaluee M, Shahroodian M , Hosseinzadeh H. 2014. Effect of Crocus sativus L.(Saffron) on Coagulation and Anticoagulation Systems in Healthy Volunteers. Phytother Res, 28: 539-43.
Cai T, Morgia G, Carrieri G, Terrone C, Imbimbo C, Verze P, Mirone V, Group IGS. 2013. An improvement in sexual function is related to better quality of life, regardless of urinary function improvement: Results from the IDIProst® Gold Study. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia, 85: 184-189.
Fadai F, Mousavi B, Ashtari Z, Ali Beigi N, Farhang S, Hashempour S, Shahhamzei N ,Bathaie SZ. 2014. Saffron aqueous extract prevents metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia on olanzapine treatment: a randomized triple blind placebo controlled study. Pharmacopsychiatry, 47: 156-161.
Ghadrdoost B, Vafaei AA, Rashidy-Pour A, Hajisoltani R, Bandegi AR, Motamedi F, Haghighi S, Sameni HR, Pahlvan S. 2011. Protective effects of saffron extract and its active constituent crocin against oxidative stress and spatial learning and memory deficits induced by chronic stress in rats. Eur J Pharmacol, 667: 222-229.
Hausenblas HA, Saha D, Dubyak PJ ,Anton SD. 2013. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Integrative Med, 11: 377-383.
Hert M, Schreurs V, Vancampfort D ,Winkel R. 2009. Metabolic syndrome in people with schizophrenia: a review. World Psychiatry, 8: 15-22.
Hosseinzadeh H, Modaghegh MH , Saffari Z. 2009. Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) Extract and its Active Constituents (Crocin and Safranal) on Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rat Skeletal Muscle. Evidence-Based Complement Alternat Med, 6: 343-350.
Hosseinzadeh H ,Younesi HM. 2002. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Crocus sativus L. stigma and petal extracts in mice. BMC Pharmacol, 2: 7.
Imenshahidi M, Razavi BM, Faal A, Gholampoor A ,Mehran S. 2013. The Effect of Chronic Administration of Saffron (Crocus sativus) Stigma Aqueous Extract on Systolic Blood Pressure in Rats. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod, 8: 175-179.
Kashani L, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Sohrabi H, Modabbernia A, Nasehi AA, Jamshidi A, Ashrafi M, Mansouri P, Ghaeli P , Akhondzadeh S. 2013. Saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Hum Psychopharmacol, 28: 54-60.
Moallem SA, Hariri AT, Mahmoudi M , Hosseinzadeh H. 2014. Effect of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus L.(saffron) stigma against subacute effect of diazinon on specific biomarkers in rats. Toxicol Indust Health, 30: 141-146.
Modaghegh MH, Shahabian M, Esmaelli HA, Rajbai O ,Hosseinzadeh H. 2008. Safety evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativus) tablets in healthy volunteers. Phytomedicine, 15: 1032-1037.
Mohajeri D, Mousavi G, Mesgari M, Doustar Y ,Khayat Nouri MH. 2007. Subacute Toxicity of Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) Stigma Ethanolic Extract in Rats. Am J Pharmacol Toxicol, 2: 189-193.
Mohamadpour AH, Ayati Z, Parizadeh MR, Rajbai O ,Hosseinzadeh H. 2013. Safety evaluation of crocin (a constituent of saffron) tablets in healthy volunteers. Iran J Basic Med Sci, 16: 39.
Mulholland C ,Cooper S. 2000. The symptom of depression in schizophrenia and its management. Adv Psychiatric Treat, 6: 169-177.
Papandreou MA, Tsachaki M, Efthimiopoulos S, Cordopatis P, Lamari FN ,Margarity M. 2011. Memory enhancing effects of saffron in aged mice are correlated with antioxidant protection. Behav Brain Res, 219: 197-204.
Ramadan A, Soliman G, Mahmoud SS, Nofal SM , Abdel-Rahman RF. 2012. Evaluation of the safety and antioxidant activities of< i> Crocus sativus and< i> Propolis ethanolic extracts. J Saudi Chem Soci, 16: 13-21.
Samarghandian S, Borji A, Farahmand SK, Afshari R, Davoodi S. 2013. Crocus sativus L.(Saffron) Stigma Aqueous Extract Induces Apoptosis in Alveolar Human Lung Cancer Cells through Caspase-Dependent Pathways Activation. BioMed Res Int, 2013: 1-12.
Shahmansouri N, Farokhnia M, Abbasi S-H, Kassaian SE, Noorbala Tafti A-A, Gougol A, Yekehtaz H, Forghani S, Mahmoodian M ,Saroukhani S. 2014. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of< i> Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. J Affective Disorders, 155: 216-222.
Shirali S, Bathaie SZ, Nakhjavani M. 2013. Effect of crocin on the insulin resistance and lipid profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Phytother Res, 27: 1042-1047.
Shirali S, Bathaie SZ, Nakhjavani M ,Ashoori MR. 2012. Effects of saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) aqueous extract on serum biochemical factors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Iranian J Med Aroma Plants, 28: 293-308.