Saffron and its derivatives, crocin, crocetin and safranal: a patent review

Introduction: Saffron and its main components have traditionally been used as pharmaceutical agents. Current experimental research projects have also exhibited their applications in a wide spectrum of disorder treatments. Area covered: This review covers the demonstrated findings and patents on therapeutic/pharmaceutical properties of saffron and related derivatives, since 2000 to bold their outstanding merit on human health. An extensive literature review was performed in USP Patent, Patentscope, Espacenet and Google Patent in the field of CNS, cardiovascular, urogenital, dermatological and inflammatory disorders. Expert opinion: The growing body of patents showed the value of saffron and the respective crucial components alone or in combination with the other raw materials, herbal extracts, to apply in various therapeutic/pharmaceutical areas. They could be engaged as an adjuvant treatment in phototherapy, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and hypoxia-induced dangerous conditions. However, the application of these components in the clinic has been limited to very few drugs yet. This might be due poor clinical trials data. According the human trend toward the use of plant-derived compounds instead of medicines derived from chemical substances, special attention must be focused to link the worth of saffron, herbal medicine of third millennium, from basic sciences to patients' bed.