Antidepressant activity of Crocus sativus L. and its main constituents: A review

Abstract Depression is a serious and prevalent mental disorder as well as a leading cause of disability. Natural herb products may be considered as an alternative to synthetic antidepressants with fewer side effects and more tolerability. Several clinical and animal studies showed that saffron, the stigmas of Crocus sativus L., may be one of the best supplements for depressive disorders. Among more than 150 chemicals in saffron, 2 carotenoids including crocin and crocetin and monoterpene aldehydes such as safranal are the most biologically active components. Saffron and its main constituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anticonvulsant, antigenotoxic, antitussive, etc. In this chapter, different studies which investigated the antidepressant effects of C. sativus L. and its main ingredients as well as proposed mechanisms have been introduced.