Use of Saffron Against Dementia and MemoryImpairment in Traditional Persian Medicine: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

In the last century, dementia became one of the most widespread diseases due to the aging world population. Alzheimer’sdisease is the most common type of dementia. Persian medical literatures have discussed disorders such as forgetfulness andtheir treatment under the topic “Nesian.” Causes of these medical conditions have been also categorized. Poor memoryand improving its treatment methods have long been important in traditional medical teaching. For example, saffron is oneof the herbs used as a memory enhancer, and it has been cited many times in the related literature. This study sought toconsider the history of saffron in the treatment of dementia by examining authentic books of traditional Persian medicineand by describing examples of medicinal compounds affecting saffron-based medications. In reviewing these books, in theeighth century CE, three centuries before Avicenna, Ibn Hakam from Damascus was the first physician who deliberated therole of saffron in the treatment of dementia in his book Haroniye (Aaron’s book). After him, other great scholars includingIbnSina, Ibn Elias Shirazi, and Dawood ibn Omar Antaki developed saffron-based formulas to improve the memory status ofpatients with forgetfulness.