Protective properties of the aqueous extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in ischemic stroke, randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE\nCrocus sativus L. has been used throughout the world in traditional medicine as a treatment for neurological disorders such as depression. Growing attention is currently being paid to the use of neuroprotective agents in ischemic strokes.\n\n\nAIM OF THE STUDY\nThis study assed the effect of saffron as a neuroprotective natural product in cerebral ischemia in human.\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nPatients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly allocated to receive either routine stroke care (control group, n\u202f=\u202f20) or routine care plus aqueous extract of saffron capsule (200\u202fmg/day) (saffron-treated group, n\u202f=\u202f19). Both groups were monitored during their four-day hospital stay and the three-month follow-up period. The groups were compared in terms of short- and long-term effects of saffron capsules using the National Institute of Health Stoke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Scale, and serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100 levels.\n\n\nRESULTS\nBased on the NIHSS, the severity of stroke during the first four days was significantly lower in the saffron-treated group than in the control group (P\u202f<\u202f0.05). Compared to the levels on the first day, serum NSE and s100 levels were significantly decreased and BDNF concentration was increased in the saffron-treated group on the fourth day. Also, our results showed there was a negative significant non-linear cubic regression between BDNF concentration and score of NIHSS. At the end of the three-month follow-up period, the mean Barthel index was significantly higher in the saffron-treated group than in the control group (P\u202f<\u202f0.001).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe results of this study confirmed the short and long-term neuroprotective effects of aqueous extract of saffron on ischemic stroke in humans.