Summary
- What it is: A review of lab and animal studies (no human trials) about saffron’s compounds (crocin, crocetin, safranal, picrocrocin) and breast cancer.
- What was looked at: 44 preclinical studies through end‑2024; tests in cells and in mice/rats.
- Main findings:
- Helps cancer cells self‑destruct (apoptosis) and slows copying (cell‑cycle arrest).
- In animals, tumors often grew more slowly; a mouse model showed fewer lung metastases.
- Some anti‑inflammatory and anti‑invasion signals; lower MMP activity in some cell studies.
- What this does not show: No proof in people, no dosing guidance. Some animal studies lacked blinding/randomization.
- Takeaway: Promising mechanisms in lab/animal models → needs human trials. Do not use without oncology guidance.
Read a more comprehensive overview at Saffron and Breast Cancer.