Table 3 Within-and between-group comparisons of the changes from baseline to endpoint measures for clinical symptoms, basophils, eosinophils and asthma severity in the saffron and placebo groups of asthmatic patients

 Baseline

0.71 (0.00–1.87)

0.20 (0.00–1.87)

 8 weeks (endpoint)

0.00 (0.00–1.00)

0.02 (0.00–1.62)

< 0.001

 Changes

−0.24 (− 1.00–0.00)

0.00 (0.00–0.00)

 P-value^¥

< 0.001

0.02

 Baseline

1.00 (0.00–1.00)

0.00 (0.00–1.00)

 8 weeks (endpoint)

0.00 (0.00–0.00)

0.00 (0.00–1.00)

< 0.001

 Changes

−0.50 (− 1.00–0.00)

0.00 (0.00–0.00)

 P-value^¥

< 0.001

0.02

 Baseline

0.38 (0.14–1.00)

1.00 (0.10–1.87)

 8 weeks (endpoint)

0.03 (0.000–1.00)

1.00 (0.06–2.00)

< 0.001

 Changes

−0.14 (−0.79–0.00)

0.00 (0.00–0.00)

P-value^¥

< 0.001

0.49

Baseline

1.25 (0.02–2.00)

1.00 (0.33–2.00)

8 weeks (endpoint)

0.14 (0.00–1.00)

1.00 (0.38–2.00)

< 0.001

Changes

−0.50 (−1.00–0.00)

0.00 (0.00–0.00)

P-value^¥

< 0.001

0.24

 Baseline

5.60 (3.00–7.45)

4.90 (3.85–6.50)

 8 weeks (endpoint)

4.55 (2.82–6.00)

4.90 (2.97–6.00)

0.12

 Changes

−0.85 (−1.62) to (0.15)

0.05 (−1.62) to (0.57)

 P-value^¥

0.005

0.58

 Baseline

0.60 (0.3–1.05)

0.60 (0.4–1.20)

 8 weeks (endpoint)

0.90 (0.50–1.50)

1.10 (0.77–1.50)

0.09

 Changes

0.00 (−0.20) to (0.62)

0.40 (0.00–0.80)

 P-value^¥

0.06

< 0.001

 Decrease

18.40

2.60

 No change

78.90

92.10

0.076

 Increase

2.6

5.3

 Mild

14(35)

15 (37.5)

0.81

 Moderate

26 (65)

25 (62.5)

 Mild

20 (52.60)

14 (36.80)

0.16

 Moderate

18 (47.40)

24 (63.20)