Saffron and Reduced Depression Symptoms

• The Role of Saffron in the Treatment of Depression: A Literature Review.

  • 2026-03-03
  • Review
  • Cureus 18(3)
  • • Luigi Dimech

  • PubMed: 41939549
  • DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104594

  1 Insight on

  • Reduced Depression Symptoms

  • Low evidence

  across placebo-controlled trials in mild-to-moderate depression, saffron, most commonly administered at 30 mg per day for approximately six weeks, has been associated with clinically meaningful reductions in depressive symptom severity, typically measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D).

  Effect

  Beneficial

  Effect size

  Moderate

  Significant

  Yes

  Dose

  30 mg per day