title: Constituents of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) as Potential Candidates for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders and Schizophrenia.
abstract: Anxiety disorders and schizophrenia are common public health issues. The dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus L., (C. sativus) commonly known as saffron are used in folk medicine for various purposes. Several lines of evidence suggest that C. sativus, crocins and safranal are implicated in anxiety and schizophrenia. Here, I intend to critically review advances in research of these emerging molecules for the treatment of anxiety and schizophrenia, discuss their advantages over currently used anxiolytics and neuroleptics, as well remaining challenges. Current analysis shows that C. sativus and its components might be a promising class of compounds for the treatment of the above mentioned psychiatric diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Panepistimiou 3 (Biopolis), Larissa 41500, Greece. npitsikas@med.uth.gr.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitsikas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Crocus sativus L.; anxiety; schizophrenia; stress