ArticleAvicenna journal of phytomedicine
Saffron improved depression and reduced homocysteine level in patients with major depression: A Randomized, double-blind study.
Article in Avicenna journal of phytomedicine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding the research landscape of over-the-counter herbal products, dietary supplements, and medications evaluated for depressive symptoms in adults: a scoping review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Fractional Exhalation Nitric Oxide (FeNO) changes in cystic fibrosis patients induced by compound honey syrup: a pretest-posttest clinical trial.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2023Trial
- The effect of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) herbal tea on happiness in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Trial
- Adverse Events of Saffron (Health science reports · 2026Article
- Review
- A systematic review on the use of phytotherapy in managing clinical depression.BioImpacts : BI · 2025Review
- Review
- Current Knowledge of the Antidepressant Activity of Chemical Compounds fromPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Betaine Ameliorates Depressive-Like Behaviors in Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Exposed Mice.Biological trace element research · 2022Article
- Safety Assessment and Pain Relief Properties of Saffron from Taliouine Region (Morocco).Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Anti-Depressant Properties of Crocin Molecules in Saffron.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Antianhedonic and Antidepressant Effects of AffronMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2020Article
- Photoprotective Properties of Isothiocyanate and Nitrile Glucosinolate Derivatives From Meadowfoam (Frontiers in pharmacology · 2018Article
- Effects of saffron on homocysteine, and antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.Avicenna journal of phytomedicineArticle
- The effect of saffron (Avicenna journal of phytomedicineArticle
- Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for the treatment of nervous disorders at the herbal markets of Bojnord, North Khorasan Province, Iran.Avicenna journal of phytomedicineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesA correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia, and depression has been reported. Saffron ( MATERIAL AND
methodsThis was a 4-week randomized and double-blind clinical trial which was conducted from March 2013 to February 2014. In this trial, 40 male and females (20-55 years old) diagnosed with severe depression were selected and following filing the Beck form, were randomly divided into two groups. Experimental group was treated with fluoxetine 20 mg/day and saffron 30 mg /day and the control group received placebo and fluoxetine 20 mg/day for four weeks. Before treatment and at the end of the study, fasting blood samples were collected. For females, blood samples were collected on the third day of their menstrual cycle.
resultsA significant reduction of homocysteine levels was observed in both sex in the experimental group compared to before treatment (p<0.04), while no such significant change was observed in the control group. A Beck questionnaire value showed lower level in both groups on the last day of treatment as compared to before treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups in Beck value neither before nor after treatment.
conclusionSaffron has beneficial effects on depression and homocysteine level in patients with major depression.
Indexed as
Identifiers
29387573PMC5787996W2765850776What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.