Saffron capsules appear to be as effective as methylphenidate for treating children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers from Iran report. "My research group at Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital has worked on the psychotropic effects of saffron since early 2000, and we have documented the antidepressant effects of saffron,” Dr. Shahin Akhondzadeh from Tehran University of Medical Sciences told Reuters Health by email.