Compound Profile
Saffron Extract
Saffron Extract carries a Grade B rating — moderate evidence.
Last reviewed: •1 source citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·B Moderate
Use extra caution — GI upset, headache, and dizziness possible; avoid high doses in pregnancy. Details
- Evidence
- Moderate evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Use extra caution: Use caution
- Best for
- Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Stress Response
- Avoid / review if
- Caution With Bleeding Disorders Or Anticoagulant Or Blood Thinning Medication Use, Caution With Blood Pressure Medications, Caution With Unbalanced Bipolar Disorder Due To Serotonergic Activity
Safety
Safety & Cautions
GI upset, headache, and dizziness possible; avoid high doses in pregnancy.
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Stimulant-Like ProfileStimulant-like or activating caution language is present.
- Anticoagulant CautionBleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
High-Priority Caution
173 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity · Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
173 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity · Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Serotonergic activityCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 26 of 26 pairings in this mechanism group.
- 5-HTP — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Caffeine — Theoretical interaction certainty
- crocetin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- crocin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Crocus Sativus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Damiana — Theoretical interaction certainty
- DMT — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ginkgo — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Panax Red Ginseng — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Panax White Ginseng — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Harmaline — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Harmine — Theoretical interaction certainty
+14 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Bleeding / anticoagulant riskCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 147 of 147 pairings in this mechanism group.
- aescin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aged Garlic Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ajwain — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Garlic — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Archangelica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Pubescens — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Root — Theoretical interaction certainty
+135 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Moderate Caution
81 flagged pairingsBlood-pressure effects
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Blood-pressure effectsCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 81 of 81 pairings in this mechanism group.
- Agmatine sulfate — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astaxanthin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus Membranaceus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Beetroot extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Berberis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Bicarbonate — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Black Seed — Theoretical interaction certainty
+69 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence Summary
Profile-wide ·B ModerateEvidence lens
Useful signal, but study design, dose, and population still matter.
ModerateModerate evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Oxidative Stress Modulation · Stress Response Modulation
Research maturity: Established research — main contexts: Oxidative Stress · Inflammation · Stress Response
Safety boundary: Safety note available — GI upset, headache, and dizziness possible; avoid high doses in pregnancy.
This profile cites 1 human study.
Evidence Strength
Confidence estimate based on the design quality and consistency of published clinical trials.
Saffron Extract has a moderate evidence rating.
AdaptogenSleepStress & MoodLongevity
Citation density
0.8
Sources
4
Effects
5
Research recency
Mixed recency
Evidence Grade
Grade B: Moderate Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Randomized controlled trial
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Consistent
Strongest recorded design is a randomized controlled trial, drawn from 5 recorded studies, 5 in people. No disagreement is recorded across them.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (4)4 human evidence sources · 4 human trials · ~128 participants across 1 human evidence source with reported N · Consistency not yet classifiable
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 4 structured sources, including 4 human evidence sources; 4 are human trials. Across 1 human evidence source with a reported sample size, the approximate participant total is 128; overlapping publications may include some of the same people.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PubMed · Complement Ther Med · 2017 Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | n=128 | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | Saffron improved the primary DASS-21 depression outcome versus placebo (β -2.92 points, 95% CI -5.13 to -0.71; d=0.39); 72.3% met the prespecified clinically significant depression change versus 54.3% on placebo. | PubMed → |
Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | POMS, affective-state measures, DASS-21, PSQI, and serum cortisol improved versus placebo, with effects reported by day 28 and maintained through day 56. | PubMed → |
Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | Saffron improved DASS-21 depression versus placebo (adjusted mean difference 2.37, 95% CI 0.23-4.51; d=0.48); 48.8% versus 25.6% achieved a clinically meaningful depression improvement. Self-esteem and sleep-related impairment also improved. | PubMed → |
How Saffron Extract Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Saffron Extract Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Dosing
- Common form
- standardized extract capsule
- No standardized dose
- Our source data records the usual product form for this ingredient but no studied dose. Preparations differ widely, so follow the standardization on the product you actually have and speak to a clinician before starting.
Mechanisms & biological pathways
Preclinical mechanism details from scientific profiles; these represent plausible pathways but do not guarantee clinical efficacy in humans.
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- Oxidative Stress Modulation
- Stress Response Modulation
Botanical Context
Source botanicals and comparison guides related to Saffron Extract.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Saffron Extract
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
Affiliate disclosure: Shopping links may earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Links are chosen on quality and availability, never commission tiers; safety warnings and evidence ratings stay independent.
Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Founder & Head Researcher · Oak Ridge, TN · Last reviewed August 2026
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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