Saffron Floral Bioresidues and Medicinal Herbs as Natural Phytomelatonin Sources for the Treatment of Anxiety and Insomnia

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.116.3

Abstract:
Modern lifestyle challenges, including chronic stress and the pervasive disruption of circadian rhythms, have triggered a global surge in sleep disorders and a subsequent demand for natural phytotherapeutic alternatives. While the melatonin market has experienced an unprecedented expansion, with U.S. sales shoot up by over 1300%, it remains almost exclusively dominated by chemical synthesis. However, shifting consumer preferences toward sustainable and "clean-label" products have positioned phytomelatonin as a superior nutraceutical candidate. This plant-derived indoleamine, chemically identical to human melatonin, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-aging, and immunomodulatory properties, acting as a pleiotropic regulator in both plants and mammals. Despite recent advances in microbial bioengineering for melatonin production, metabolic hurdles in industrial scale-up persist, driving the urgent search for novel botanical raw materials. This study investigates the potential of saffron floral residues as a sustainable supply of phytomelatonin for sedative and sleep-inducing applications. Using LC coupled to fluorescence detector, endogenous phytomelatonin levels were quantified and compared across a selection of traditional sedative plants, including valerian, St. John’s wort, lemon balm, German and Moroccan chamomiles, among others. Our findings suggest that saffron bioresidues, currently considered an agricultural byproducts, represent a viable and high-value raw material for the phytotherapeutic industry. This research supports the valorization of saffron floral waste to meet the escalating global demand for natural treatments against anxiety and insomnia, providing a robust quantitative basis for its clinical and commercial application.

Keywords:
anxiety, botanicals, dietary supplements, health product, herbs, melatonin, phytomelatonin, phytotherapy, sleep disorder

Article Info:
Received: 20 Sep 2026; Received in revised form: 18 Oct 2026; Accepted: 23 Oct 2026; Available online: 06 Nov 2026

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