SCIENCE ALERT: Saffron extract: a randomized clinical trial for protective effects in ischemic stroke (J Ethnopharmacol)

Editor's Note

Patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly allocated to receive either routine stroke care or routine care plus aqueous extract of saffron capsule (200 mg/day) to assess the effect of saffron as a neuroprotective natural product. The severity of stroke during the first four days was significantly lower in the saffron-treated group. At the end of the three-month follow-up period, the mean Barthel index was significantly higher in the saffron-treated group suggesting short and long-term neuroprotective effects of aqueous extract of saffron on ischemic stroke in humans.

June 2019

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.111833

Protective properties of the aqueous extract of saffron ( Crocus sativus L.) in ischemic stroke, randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Crocus sativus L. has been used throughout the world in traditional medicine as a treatment for neurological disorders such as depression. Growing attention is currently being paid to the use of neuroprotective agents in ischemic strokes .

Aim of the study

This study assessed the effect of saffron as a neuroprotective natural product in cerebral ischemia in human.

Study design

Patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly allocated to receive either routine stroke care (control group, n = 20) or routine care plus aqueous extract of saffron capsule (200 mg/day) (saffron-treated group, n = 19). Both groups were monitored during their four-day hospital stay and the three-month follow-up period. The groups were compared in terms of short- and long-term effects of saffron capsules using the National Institute of Health Stoke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Scale, and serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100 levels.

Results

Based on the NIHSS, the severity of stroke during the first four days was significantly lower in the saffron-treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared to the levels on the first day, serum NSE and s100 levels were significantly decreased and BDNF concentration was increased in the saffron-treated group on the fourth day. Also, our results showed there was a negative significant non-linear cubic regression between BDNF concentration and score of NIHSS. At the end of the three-month follow-up period, the mean Barthel index was significantly higher in the saffron-treated group than in the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of this study confirmed the short and long-term neuroprotective effects of aqueous extract of saffron on ischemic stroke in humans.