Saffron and Ulcerative Colitis

This study will be a parallel, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial assessing the efficacy of the saffron extract compared to placebo in patients with mild and moderate UC. Sixty eligible patients will be recruited and randomized into 6 groups to receive either saffron capsule or placebo. Randomization will be performed by an independent researcher (AAK) who is not directly involved in the trial and using software-generated random permuted blocks. Allocation concealment will be also conducted using sealed, opaque envelopes with consecutive numbering. The saffron and placebo will be provided free of charge by Sina Pajoohan Salamat co, Mashhad, Iran. The standard treatment will be administered to all patients as recommendations of the physicians. Intervention The intervention groups of study will be included: 1. Mild UC patients, receiving100 milligram (mg)/day saffron for 8 weeks (50 mg two times (BID)), n=10 2. Moderate UC patients, receiving100 mg/day saffron for 8 weeks (50 mg BID), n=10 3. Mild UC patients, receiving 50 mg/day saffron for 8 weeks (25 mg BID), n=10 4. Moderate UC patients, receiving 50 mg/day saffron for 8 weeks (25 mg BID), n=10 5. Mild UC patients, receiving 2 tablets of placebo for 8 weeks, n=10 6. Moderate UC patients, receiving 2 tablets of placebo for 8 weeks, n=10 Demographic and baseline characteristics will be recorded, and assessment of anthropometric and biochemical parameters, fecal calprotectin, inflammatory cytokines, stool microbiome, and its transcriptomic, and metabolomic, urine and saliva metabolomics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and disease severity will be done at baseline and after 8 weeks. Fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease severity will also be evaluated at 4th week. Moreover, HRQoL and anxiety will also be examined after 6 and 12 months.