Saffron is excellent for preventing cancer development, as well as being an effective weapon against established cancers, mainly because of its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Studies have shown that saffron promotes cancer cell suicide (apoptosis) and inhibits proliferation. It has already been proven to be effective against the following types of cancer:

• Lung

• Breast

• Ovarian

• Sarcomas

• Leukemia

In addition, a human trial on cancer patients who showed liver metastasis was recently conducted.

Metastatic cancer is what kills the patient — and it is the most difficult form to treat.

Patients who were received moderate doses of saffron along with chemotherapy had significantly fewer liver tumors than those getting chemotherapy alone.

Two patients in the saffron-treated group also showed partial to complete tumor response. There was no tumor response in the chemotherapy-only group.

A number of studies have shown that carotenoids can suppress some cancers. The ingredients in saffron are special types of highly polar carotenoids that target cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

Saffron extract has been shown to inhibit cancer cells by a number of mechanisms, including immune stimulation.

Another important effect of saffron is its ability to protect normal cells against damage from chemotherapy drugs. Doxorubicin is a drug that is associated with severe damage to the heart, among other organs.

Adding saffron to treatment with doxorubicin has been shown to significantly reduce toxicity on the heart.

For example, in animal studies saffron extract completely protected the hearts of animals receiving doxorubicin, and restored a normal EEG pattern. At the same time, saffron made the chemotherapy drug more effective.

Other studies have shown that saffron also enhances the effectiveness of the cancer drug cisplatin on lung cancer cells.

Another study found that saffron extract significantly protected against toxicity of cisplatin on normal organs and tissues.

Saffron joins a long list of naturally occurring compounds — curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, baicalein, ferulic acid, luteolin, and apigenin — with strong anticancer effects that also protect normal cells and organs.