Effect of crocin versus fluoxetine in treatment of mild to moderate obsessive‐compulsive disorder: A double blind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common disabling disorder. Crocin, the active component of the saffron plant (Crocus Sativus L.) has various pharmacological activities. The present study compared the efficacy and safety of crocin and fluoxetine in treatment of mild to moderate OCD. Methods & Materials Fifty patients with OCD, aged 18 to 60 years, were randomized to receive either crocin (15 mg) or fluoxetine (20 mg) capsules for 8 weeks. Eligible participants received one capsule/day in the first month, which followed by two capsules daily in the second month. The patients were evaluated using Yale‐Brown Obsessive‐compulsive scale (Y‐BOCS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HARS). Results The mean Y‐BOCS score in both groups decreased significantly during 2 months (p‐value = 0.0001). Also, HARS score in the crocin group was changed from 17.16 to 13.04 whereas, in the fluoxetine group was decreased from 18.28 to 12.34. The results indicated no difference between the two groups in Y‐BOCS and HARS score changes after 2‐month trial (p‐value >0.5). Also, fewer adverse effects were reported in the crocin group compared to the fluoxetine group. Conclusion According to our study, it seems that crocin is effective in treatment of patients with mild to moderate OCD with possibly fewer adverse effects compared to fluoxetine.

New horizons for the study of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its active ingredients in the management of neurological and psychiatric disorders: A systematic review of clinical evidence and mechanisms

“…Fourteen RCTs were available for the analysis of saffron on anxiety symptoms (Ghaderi et al, 2019, 2017; Jafarnia et al, 2017; Kazemi et al, 2021; Kell et al, 2017; Khalatbari‐Mohseni et al, 2019; Lopresti & Drummond, 2017; Lopresti et al, 2018, 2020; Mazidi et al, 2016; Milajerdi et al, 2018; Moazen‐Zadeh et al, 2018; Salek et al, 2021; Talaei et al, 2015). Ten trials with a total of 606 participants used a placebo as the control group, two trials with 50 mild to moderate OCD patients and 60 MDD patients with anxious distress used conventional antidepressants, and two trials with 40 generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients and 40 MDD patients used saffron or placebo combined with conventional therapeutic drugs.…”

Effect of saffron supplementation on oxidative stress markers (MDA, TAC, TOS, GPx, SOD, and pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance): An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

“…After screening the titles and abstracts, 795 articles were removed from the study because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, such as animal studies, unrelated, and review articles. The full-text screening revealed that 18 articles could not be included in the study due to the failure to report the variables (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40). In addition, we removed one article because the level of oxidative markers measured were saliva and urine (41).…”

Crocin: Functional characteristics, extraction, food applications and efficacy against brain related disorders

“…According to randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments, crocin medicinal levels do not harm the body. In a double blind randomized clinical trial it was found that crocin (20 mg/day) is safe in healthy volunteers, with no notable changes in hematological, hormonal, biochemical, or urine markers ( 17 ). This review aims to describe the role of crocin in developing functional food, extraction and critically evaluate prior and current findings on the biological/pharmacological actions of crocin against various brain related diseases.…”