What Is Saffron? Health Benefits, Origins, and How It’s Used Today
What is Saffron
Saffron, also called gold of Greek soil, modern day take on the same by scientists called it a “Focus flower”, due to its benefits on brain functioning, used for brain related diseases and treatment.
Impeccable health benefits of Saffron crimson red stigma strands, history, origin, medicinal usage, ancient usage in cosmetics, decorations & beauty.
History of Saffron
History of saffron, the origin, traceability is still not very clear am the scholars and researchers whether they are originated in ancient Greece, Iran or India.
However, the traces go back to all of the three continents. More so the earlier two.
How ancient Greeks used Saffron in their diet, medicines, decorations and other usage by ancient women in Greece.
Saffron, is also popularly known as, “The Gold of Greek Earth”, was among the most in demand and valuable spices of the ancient civilizations, for its flavor, color, decorations like frescos, painting, dying agent, women’s health, brain health, pharmaceutical and aphrodisiac properties.
The word “krokos” (saffron) in its original or in derivative forms when referring to the plant, the bloom, the essence, decorative, food, or the herb, medicine, is known since the earliest nomenclatures of the world according to sources.
Hippocrates, Asclepius, Dioskorides, Galen, and other physicians of antiquity, the word is used to refer to a medicinal or therapeutic herb.
Apart from the aforementioned meanings, the same word has been used by some of our classical poets, such as Homer, Sophocles etc., who have been later imitated by some of our more recent ones, for the description or simile of an object, more frequently so for the sunrise itself.
It was also known to other ancient civilizations as well, such as the Egyptians, the Hebrews and the Romans (Virgil, Pliny and others).
However, it retained its undisputed Greekness since it derives from the Greek word “kroki”
Cleopatra used it in her cosmetics, ancient Phoenicians in their offers to Goddess Astarte, Homer mentioned it in his writings, while we still find it in The Old
Testament. Today saffron is widely used in natural cosmetics, and dietary supplement industries, due to their diverse benefits.
Hippocrates' endorsement:
The legendary Greek physician Hippocrates, often considered the "father of medicine," recommended saffron for treating diseases in the 4th century BC, according to a historical account.
Widespread use:
Saffron was recognized for its medicinal properties in classical Greek and Roman times, and its use continued through the Middle Ages.
Specific applications:
Saffron was used to treat nervous disorders, ulcers, and festering wounds. It was also employed as a natural painkiller, a remedy for upset stomachs and insomnia, and as a wound healer.
Further uses:
In Greco-Roman times, saffron was also associated with professional courtesans and was used in their baths and as potpourri, according to Wikipedia.
Complex preparations:
Ancient texts describe more complex saffron preparations, like an oil-based emulsion with roasted beans, used topically for urinary tract issues in men, while women ingested a different preparation.
Mythology
The myth of Krokus
While Hermes was practicing in discus throwing, he fatally wounded his mortal friend Krokus.
What a shame! How could he, a God, kill a man! Hermes was deeply saddened.
So, he decided to grant Krokus with immortality by transforming his soulless body to a beautiful purple flower and his blood into three red stigmas at the heart of the flower (saffron crocus). Since then, every autumn, the flowers of crocus cover the Greek land , with a purple carpet and fill the air with their fine aroma.
According to “NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICNE”;
The Pharmacological Activities of Crocus sativus L.: A Review Based on the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities of its Phytoconstituents.
Here we will cover a small segment of the research based on scientific study on Saffron, more you can read it on our latest news letters on R&D, innovations, breakthroughs in the field of science.
Crocus species are mainly distributed in North Africa, Southern and Central Europe, and Western Asia, used in gardens and parks as ornamental plants, while Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is the only species that is cultivated for edible purpose. The use of saffron is very ancient; besides the use as a spice, saffron has long been known also for its medical and coloring qualities. Due to its distinctive flavor and color, it is used as a spice, which imparts food preservative activity owing to its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
This updated review discusses the biological properties of Crocus sativus L. and its phytoconstituents, their pharmacological activities, signaling pathways, and molecular targets, therefore highlighting it as a potential herbal medicine. Clinical studies regarding its pharmacologic potential in clinical therapeutics and toxicity studies were also reviewed. For this updated review, a search was performed in the PubMed, Science, and Google Scholar databases using keywords related to Crocus sativus L. and the biological properties of its phytoconstituents. From this search, only the relevant works were selected.
The phytochemistry of the most important bioactive compounds in Crocus sativus L. such as crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal and also dozens of other compounds was studied and identified by various physicochemical methods. Isolated compounds and various extracts have proven their pharmacological efficacy at the molecular level and signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, toxicity studies and clinical trials were analyzed.
The research results highlighted the various pharmacological potentials such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, hypolipidemic, and antihyperglycemic properties and protector of retinal lesions. Due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, saffron has proven effective as a natural food preservative.
Starting from the traditional uses for the treatment of several diseases, the bioactive compounds of Crocus sativus L. have proven their effectiveness in modern pharmacological research. However, pharmacological studies are needed in the future to identify new mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic studies, new pharmaceutical formulations for target transport, and possible interaction with allopathic drugs.
Illustrative scheme with different pathways of ROS formation and their impact on health. Bioactive compounds of Crocus sativus L. interfere with these mechanisms showing the beneficial effects for human health. Abbreviations and symbols: ↑ (increase, stimulate), ꓕ (decrease, inhibition), CAT (catalase), NO (nitric oxide), MDA (malondialdehyde), ROS (reactive oxidative species), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GSSG (oxidized glutathione), GSH (reduced glutathione), O2−(superoxide), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), OH●(hydroxyl ions), and NO (nitric oxide).
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11060205/
Some impressive Health Benefits of Saffron Antioxidant
- Mental health
- Anti-cancer
- PMS relief
- Aphrodisiac
- Weight management
- Other benefits
- Easy to eat
- Dosage and risks
Saffron may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer benefits. However, women who are pregnant should avoid high doses, or should consult your medical professionals before taking saffron supplements. Saffron is the most expensive spice on this planet, for high quality 1kg (1000 grams) costing between euro 2000 to 6,000.
The very reason for its high price is because each of the strands/ stigma from the saffron flower has to be picked by hands, highly labor-intensive harvesting method, which makes it very costly.
According to Healthline researchers and scientists’ community. We will cover more details on another article. Hope you enjoyed the brief History of saffron.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saffron
