Lopresti Adrian L, Drummond Peter D
School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27. doi: 10.1002/hup.2434. Epub 2014 Sep 22.
Saffron, a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, has now undergone several trials examining its antidepressant effects and, in a recent meta-analysis, was confirmed to be effective for the treatment of major depression.
To provide an expanded systematic analysis of the completed clinical studies on saffron and depression, detailing dosages, extract sources, standardisations, safety profile and treatment duration; and, through a narrative review, to examine its potential antidepressant mechanisms of action.
In the systematic review of clinical trials, electronic databases were searched for high-quality, randomised, double-blind studies, with placebo or antidepressant controls. A narrative review of in vivo and in vitro studies was conducted to examine its potential antidepressant mechanisms of action.
In the systematic review, six studies were identified. In the placebo-comparison trials, saffron had large treatment effects and, when compared with antidepressant medications, had similar antidepressant efficacy. Saffron's antidepressant effects potentially are due to its serotonergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-endocrine and neuroprotective effects.
Research conducted so far provides initial support for the use of saffron for the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. Further research is required to expand our understanding of the role and actions of saffron in major depression.
藏红花是一种从番红花花朵中提取的香料，目前已经进行了多项试验来研究其抗抑郁作用，并且在最近的一项荟萃分析中，证实其对治疗重度抑郁症有效。
对已完成的关于藏红花与抑郁症的临床研究进行扩展的系统分析，详细说明剂量、提取物来源、标准化、安全性概况和治疗持续时间；并通过叙述性综述，研究其潜在的抗抑郁作用机制。
在对临床试验的系统评价中，检索电子数据库以查找高质量、随机、双盲研究，有安慰剂或抗抑郁药对照。对体内和体外研究进行叙述性综述，以研究其潜在的抗抑郁作用机制。
在系统评价中，确定了六项研究。在安慰剂对照试验中，藏红花具有显著的治疗效果，与抗抑郁药物相比，具有相似的抗抑郁疗效。藏红花的抗抑郁作用可能归因于其血清素能、抗氧化、抗炎、神经内分泌和神经保护作用。
迄今为止的研究为藏红花用于治疗轻度至中度抑郁症提供了初步支持。需要进一步研究以扩大我们对藏红花在重度抑郁症中的作用和作用机制的理解。
