Every time we think about “saffron,” the first place that comes to mind is Kashmir. For centuries, the purple crocus fields of Pampore, often called the saffron bowl of Kashmir, have produced the country’s most prized spice.The top variety, Mongra, is the highest quality. In 2020, Kashmir saffron received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which helps authenticate every gram of Kashmir saffron and gives it more prominence in the export market.Recently, Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena posted on his official social media handle about how experimental saffron cultivation on recently restored degraded land in Leh has blossomed into healthy produce.In a post on X, the Union Territory’s Lieutenant Governor wrote, “Proud to announce that the experimental saffron cultivation, over recently restored degraded land in Leh, has begun to blossom, in a record-breaking 30 days, against the usual two-month timeline for the first bloom. Inspected the saffron field today to witness the first saffron bloom.On an average, 20 to 25 flowers are blooming daily with 72 flowers blooming this morning. In just 04 days, nearly 22 grams of pure saffron has been collected.”He further added, “This remarkable achievement is a powerful testament to the resilience of our environment and the immense, untapped potential of high-altitude farming in our region.”Saffron is one of the world’s most valuable spices and costs more than Gold for each of its gram popularly giving it the name of ‘Red Gold’.But the story doesn’t end at the farm. The same tiny red threads that colour our biryani and kheer also have surprising health benefits; let us look at what research published in the journal Nutrients says about it.
Saffron may help tackle depression
The review looked at the association between saffron and depression. In mice, saffron extracts and compounds such as crocin and safranal showed antidepressant-like effects by acting on brain chemicals including serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. In people, one randomised trial found that 50 mg of saffron lowered depression and anxiety scores compared with a placebo.
Saffron helps reduce anxiety
According to the review, it was found that watery saffron extract and its compound safranal had calming effects similar to diazepam, a well-known anti-anxiety drug, probably by acting on a receptor in the brain called GABA-A. When tested on rats, crocins, a saffron compound, also reduced obsessive-compulsive-type behaviour.
Saffron is beneficial for heart health
Saffron has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood-pressure-lowering and fat-lowering properties, all of which are good news for the heart. In animal studies, a saffron compound called crocetin protected the heart from damage when blood flow returned after a blockage. Saffron and safranal also protected rats’ hearts in experimental heart attacks and lowered the risk of fatal irregular heartbeats. It even showed protective effects on the brain in rats with stroke.
Saffron improves eye health
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, often because of high pressure inside the eye. In this review, it was found in a model of glaucoma that oral saffron extract reduced the rise in eye pressure and protected retinal nerve cells from dying due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may be behind this, according to the researchers.
Saffron has positive effects on Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease involves a sticky protein called beta-amyloid clumping together in the brain. According to the review, saffron and crocins were found to block this clumping. In rats with Alzheimer’s-like conditions, crocins improved learning and memory. In mice, they lowered beta-amyloid levels in significant brain areas while boosting antioxidant defences. The authors say this may be partly due to crocins’ antioxidant and anti-cell-death effects.