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Saffron takes on cancer

The yellow spice inhibits liver cancer growth in rats

By Nathan Seppa

- More than 2 years ago

Best known as a food seasoning and dye, saffron can also stifle liver cancer in rats, tests show. In a report in the September Hepatology, researchers find that the spice suppresses a slew of known cancer-related compounds and boosts several beneficial ones.

Harvested from the Crocus sativus flower (shown), saffron stifles liver cancer’s growth in rats and even inhibits the proliferation of human liver cancer cells, a new study finds.