Saffron: The golden spice with therapeutic properties on digestive diseases
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2019
Abstract
Saffron is a natural compound that has been used for centuries in many parts of the world as a food colorant and additive. It was shown to have the ability to mitigate various disorders through its known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of saffron in the treatment of various chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis as well as common malignancies of the colon, stomach, lung, breast, and skin. Modern day drugs generally have unwanted side effects, which led to the current trend to use naturally occurring products with therapeutic properties. In the present review, the objective is to systematically analyze the wealth of information regarding the potential mechanisms of action and the medical use of saffron, the “golden spice”, especially in digestive diseases. We summarized saffron influence on microbiome, molecular pathways, and inflammation in gastric, colon, liver cancers, and associated inflammations.
Recommended Citation
Ashktorab, Hassan; Soleimani, Akbar; Singh, Gulshan; Amr, Amin; Tabtabaei, Solmaz; Latella, Giovanni; Stein, Ulrike; Akhondzadeh, Shahin; Solanki, Naimesh; Gondré-Lewis, Marjorie C.; Habtezion, Aida; and Brim, Hassan, "Saffron: The golden spice with therapeutic properties on digestive diseases" (2019). College of Medicine Faculty Publications. 322.
https://dh.howard.edu/med_fac/322
