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2000
Volume 32, Issue 11
  • ISSN: 1381-6128
  • E-ISSN: 1873-4286

Abstract

(saffron) is a valuable medicinal plant with a rich phytochemical profile, including bioactive carotenoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The key constituents of saffron, crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal, exhibit potent neuroprotective properties, with crocin, a water-soluble carotenoid, plays a crucial role in promoting neurogenesis and mitigating depressive symptoms. Depression, affecting approximately 280 million individuals globally (WHO, 2023), is closely associated with impaired neurogenesis, highlighting the need for novel treatment strategies. , particularly in its nanotherapeutic form, shows promise in the treatment of depression by effectively crossing the blood-brain barrier and modulating neurotransmitter systems. In addition to its carotenoids, saffron contains flavonoids, such as kaempferol and quercetin derivatives, which contribute to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This review explores the phytochemical composition of , its role in neurogenesis, and its potential as a therapeutic agent for depression and neurodegenerative disorders.

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/content/journals/cpd/10.2174/0113816128380974250716232813
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Crocus sativus and Neurological Health: A Review on Depression and Impaired Neurogenesis
Curr. Pharm. Des. 32, 854 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0113816128380974250716232813
/content/journals/cpd/10.2174/0113816128380974250716232813
/content/journals/cpd/10.2174/0113816128380974250716232813
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  • Article Type:     Review Article
Keyword(s): crocetin; Crocin; depression; neurogenesis; saffron; safranal

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