Current Knowledge of the Antidepressant Activity of Chemical Compounds from Crocus sativus L

Abstract

Psychotropic effect of Crocus sativus L. (family Iridaceae) biologically active chemical compounds are quite well documented and they can therefore be used in addition to the conventional pharmacological treatment of depression. This systematic review on antidepressant compounds in saffron crocus and their mechanisms of action and side effects is based on publications released between 1995−2022 and data indexed in 15 databases under the following search terms: antidepressant effect, central nervous system, Crocus sativus, cognitive impairement, crocin, crocetin, depression, dopamine, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, picrocrocin, phytotherapy, neurotransmitters, safranal, saffron, serotonin, and biologically active compounds. The comparative analysis of the publications was based on 414 original research papers. The investigated literature indicates the effectiveness and safety of aqueous and alcoholic extracts and biologically active chemical compounds (alkaloids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoid, phenolic, saponins, and terpenoids) isolated from various organs (corms, leaves, flower petal, and stigmas) in adjuvant treatment of depression and anxiety. Monoamine reuptake inhibition, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-α agonism are the main proposed mechanism of the antidepressant action. The antidepressant and neuroprotective effect of extract components is associated with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The mechanism of their action, interactions with conventional drugs and other herbal preparations and the safety of use are not fully understood; therefore, further detailed research in this field is necessary. The presented results regarding the application of C. sativus in phytotherapy are promising in terms of the use of herbal preparations to support the treatment of depression. This is particularly important given the steady increase in the incidence of this disease worldwide and social effects.

Keywords: Iridaceae; adjuvant phytotherapy; anxiety; crocin and crocetin; depression; neuroprogression and neurotransmitters; safety of saffron treatment; saffron and safranal.

Figure 1

Structural formula of biologically active chemical compounds: crocin (A), crocetin (B), picrocrocin (C), and safranal (D) present in C. sativus [298,299,300,301].

Figure 2

Structural formula of kaempferol 3-O-β-sophoroside-7-O-β-glucoside (A) and kaempferol 3-O-β-sophoroside (B) from C. sativus [166].

Figure 3

Mechanism of antidepressant action [216,228,231,293,345,364,374,375,410].