Background: Crocus sativus L., or saffron, is a valuable medicinal plant with a complex biochemical makeup that includes crocin, safranal, picrocrocin, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, compounds linked to a variety of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant activity.Objective: This systematic review summarizes existing evidence for the antioxidant activity of saffron stigma extracts in vitro and assesses the influence of methodological variables, including the type of assay, geographical origin, extraction method, and solvent type, on reported results.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify peer-reviewed original research articles published between January 2000 and April 2025.The review followed PRISMA guidelines, 28 studies were qualitatively synthesized.Results: DPPH assay was the most frequently used method (26 studies, ~92.86 %), followed by FRAP assay (11 studies, ~39.29 %) and ABTS assay (8 studies, ~28.57%).Iranian saffron samples tended to exhibit high crocin content, which was frequently associated with elevated antioxidant potential, particularly in DPPH and ABTS assays.Maceration was the most frequent extraction method (19 studies, 67.86 %), yet ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) demonstrated improved extraction of crocin and total phenolics.Methanol was the most extensively used solvent (15 studies, ~53.57%), yet water-based extractions combined with UAE were also found effective.Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for standardization of protocols to increase reproducibility and comparability across studies.The review provides evidencebased information to optimize the processing and utilization of saffron, thus augmenting its role as a valuable natural antioxidant useful in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Babashpour-Asl et al. (Mon,) studied this question.