Insights & Discussion
Saffron and its components, crocin and crocetin, show potential in treating various eye disorders, including inflammation, macular edema, and glaucoma.
Using key search terms like "eye disorders" and "saffron", the authors conducted a systematic review of various literature databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Their search included all types of studies, with no strict inclusion criteria, covering clinical studies, in vivo and in vitro studies. They extracted data from each study for qualitative analysis.
The review started with 78 articles, narrowed down to 29 relevant ones. Nine articles were clinical trials, and 20 articles examined the impact of saffron on cellular and molecular aspects of eye disorders.
Through their analysis, researchers found that saffron protects photoreceptor cells from light-induced damage, decreases glucose levels in diabetic mice, and mitigates the pro-inflammatory response in retinal cells. They reported improved visual function in age-related macular edema and lowered intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. Furthermore, crocin, one of the saffron's main ingredients, was found to enhance the best corrected visual acuity and decrease central macular thickness in patients suffering from diabetic maculopathy.
Discover Related Insights
Saffron shows potential as a promising therapeutic agent in treating neurodegenerative ocular diseases.
2020 Neural Regeneration Research Beneficial effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in ocular pathologies, particularly neurodegenerative retinal diseases Ramírez JM, Salazar JJ, Fernández-Albarral JA, de Hoz R, Ramírez AI, López-Cuenca I, et al.
Review Article Retinitis Pigmentosa Saffron
This research thoroughly explores the therapeutic properties of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), traditionally used in food and medicine, focusing on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities. These properties stem from saffron's main metabolites, notably crocin and crocetin. In addition to investigating its commonly attributed properties, the study delves into the possible neuroprotective role of saffron in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, looking at both experimental models and clinical studies in patients.
The findings reveal that saffron has shown beneficial effects in the treatment of ocular neurodegenerative conditions including diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. This study offers an in-depth review and report on ongoing investigations of saffron extract’s benefits for ocular diseases, particularly neurodegenerative ones.