Saffron as a Retinal Neuroprotectant: A Narrative Review of Preclinical Studies and Clinical Results

The present narrative review reports the main preclinical and clinical results obtained by using supplementation of saffron or its pure components in neurodegeneration, with special emphasis on age-related macular degeneration. Beyond that, this article will address shared pathways between neurodegenerative diseases of the eye and the brain. It will be shown that saffron treatment might counteract oxidative damage in the retina and brain, as well as inflammation and inflammatory mediators that induce neuronal degeneration and death. The ways of action are multiple, and saffron chemical components appear to act in a synergistic manner, inducing tissue resilience. These effects critically depend upon the saffron chemical composition and structure. A well-defined ratio among molecules is linked to a patented batch known as Repron® and offers the maximum protection against neurodegeneration.