Effetti Combinati di Camomilla e Zafferano come Terapia Adiuvante per Pazienti con Alterazioni Metaboliche e Depressione Lieve o Moderata
Introduction
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric conditions worldwide, with a significant impact on patients’ mental health and well-being. Furthermore, the correlation between depression and metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia is increasingly evident.
The search for effective and well-tolerated adjuvant therapies to address these conditions is a crucial clinical goal. This prospective pilot study, conducted at Aga Khan University in Karachi, aimed to explore the combined effects of the herbs chamomile and saffron as adjuvant therapy in patients with mild to moderate depression associated with metabolic abnormalities.
Methods
The study was conducted from August to October 2020 and involved patients with mild to moderate depression, with or without diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Participants were selected based on specific criteria and then randomized into two groups: intervention group A and control group B.
In group A, patients received tea bags containing saffron (1 mg) and chamomile (20 mg) to be taken orally twice a day for one month, in addition to their routine medications.
In group B, patients were advised to continue taking only their routine medications. The severity of depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), while cholesterol levels were measured using blood samples. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20 software.
Results
The study sample included 50 subjects, evenly divided between group A and group B. The results demonstrated that patients in group A, who received the combination of chamomile and saffron as adjuvant therapy, showed significant improvements compared to group B.
Specifically, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values were significantly better in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). Furthermore, the severity of depression, as measured by the PHQ-9, significantly decreased in group A compared to group B.
Conclusions
This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of the potential benefits of combining chamomile and saffron as adjuvant therapy for patients with mild to moderate depression associated with metabolic abnormalities. The results show significant improvements in total cholesterol levels, HDL, LDL, and depression severity in patients treated with this herbal combination compared to those who continued with routine medications alone.
These results are promising and suggest the need for further large-scale clinical studies to confirm the efficacy and safety of this adjuvant therapy.
In conclusion, the combination of chamomile and saffron represents a potential innovative therapeutic approach to address the complex challenges associated with depression and metabolic abnormalities. This research paves the way for further investigations that could lead to new personalized treatments to improve the mental and metabolic health of patients affected by these concurrent conditions.
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Source: Ahmad S, Khan A, Rafique H, Tikmani P, Mesiya H, Amin F. Co-administration of saffron and chamomile: to determine the efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for mild to moderate depression in human subjects. A pilot randomized clinical trial. J Pak Med Assoc. 2023 Jun;73(6):1245-1250. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.3915. PMID: 37427624.
