Saffron as a herbal medicine for depression – an in silico study

Depression, considered a mental disorder, is characterized by loss of interest/desire for everything, feelings of sadness and low self-esteem. And the most serious conditions can lead to suicide. This characteristic destroys hope and beauty in the lives of its bearers . According to Del Porto (1999), the feelings of sadness and joy are of fundamental importance for human beings, as they color the affective background of psychic life. Since, sadness composes a general response to situations of loss, defeat, disappointment, stress and other adversities . The World Health Organization, distinguishes depression by persistent sadness and lack of interest or pleasure in activities that were previously pleasurable. Even more so, it can negatively interfere with sleep and appetite, lack of concentration and increased fatigue. And it is the disease that most causes disability in the world. This mental disorder affects around 5% of adults worldwide. The causes of depression include complex interactions between social, psychological and biological factors. Life events such as adversity, loss, unemployment, social structure, whether in childhood or adulthood, contribute and can catalyze the development of depression . The depression brings with it a cost, which is usually very high. From monetary losses (losing a job) to life itself (suicide) . Depression affects all types of people – young and old, rich and poor, and women are more likely to experience depression than men . According to PAHO, PAHO – Pan American Health Organization, 1 out of 4 people in the Americas suffers from a mental illness . There are treatments for depression, from therapies to pharmacological. However, in low- and middle-income countries, treatment and support services for depression are often absent or underdeveloped. It is estimated that over 75% of people suffering from mental disorders in these countries do not receive treatment. Therefore, this work projects the study of molecular docking for safranal, a substance present in the medicinal plant Crocus sativus popularly known as saffron. In order to identify the activity relationship with selective serotonin, noradrenaline and/or dopamine reuptake blockers. Well, it is known that in depression there is a decrease in the levels of these neurotransmitters.