Zafran (Crocus sativus L.): A Review on its Ancient Use in Unani Medicine and Recent Scientific Studies

Abstract

Background: Zafran is the dried stigmas of the flowers of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Zafran has a rich history of medicinal applications, serving both as a food coloring and flavoring agent, as well as being utilized in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. The chief components of saffron are crocin, picrocrocin and safranal.
Aims and Objectives: This review is designed to provide a comprehensive summary of the potential health benefits of Crocus sativus (Zafran or saffron) in Unani medicine and to discuss its recent phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
Methods: The Unani classical literature was researched manually and online for this purpose. Various search engines Google Scholar advanced search, ResearchGate, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and AYUSH Research Portal etc. were searched by
these search terms: "Saffron" OR "Crocus sativus" OR "Zafran" OR "C. sativus research paper" AND "Saffron and Unani system of medicine."
Result: In Unani Medicine, Zafran is used medicinally as an important medicine single as well as in compound formulations. Evidence based pharmacological studies revealed that it has important pharmacological properties e.g., Immunomodulator activity, Neuroprotective Activity, Anti-Depressant Activity, Cardioprotective and Antiatherosclerosis activity, Anticonvulsant activity etc. Various types of active phytoconstituents also have been searched and evaluated from C. sativus which are crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, Safranal, the glucosyl ester of crocetin, ß-carotene, Zeaxanthin etc. The presence of these phytochemicals may have contributed to the concerned pharmacological characteristics.
Conclusion: Zafran constituents show a wide spectrum of biological activities due to its phytoconstituents. It has the potential to function as a highly efficient natural remedy for various diseases. Therefore, further in vitro and in vivo investigations are necessary to explore the suggestions of USM and other traditional medicinal systems regarding the broad therapeutic benefits of Crocus sativus.