Review on the effects of saffron extract and its constituents on factors related to nervous system, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases

Previous studies have detected preventive and therapeutic effects of saffron. However، no systematic reviews were written on these effects. This study reviews the impact of saffron extract and its'' constituents on the factors associated with the nervous system، cardiovascular، and gastrointestinal tract diseases. Articles in English have searched at Pub Med and Science direct databases using Mesh words and Persian articles have searched in SID database. Results indicated that saffron and its'' constituents have beneficial effects on preventing and treating of memory-associated diseases and eye disorders. Although، limited investigations were performed on analgesic، anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure effects of saffron، their results were promising. The effects of saffron and its’ constituents on anxiety and insomnia were only studied in animal models and the results were promising. Their antidepressant effects became evident in the studies. Moreover، effects of saffron and its active constituents on prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease have been observed in previous studies. However، few studies were performed on the effects of saffron on gastrointestinal diseases which are limited to animal studies، some potential benefits of saffron in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases have been found. Saffron is also non-toxic in doses of daily intake. Collectively، it seems that saffron and its active constituents play preventive and therapeutic roles in the nervous system، cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. These functions emerge from antioxidant، anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of saffron.