Nutrients: saffron extract is beneficial for supporting memory and reducing anxiety.
Saffron extract has been found to be beneficial for supporting memory, reducing anxiety, and improving metabolism in older age. This conclusion was reached by scientists who published the results of a preclinical study in the journal Nutrients.
Researchers studied the effects of a standardized saffron extract containing strictly defined amounts of safranal and crocins—key bioactive compounds of the plant. The experiments were conducted on elderly mice, allowing for the modeling of age-related changes characteristic of aging: memory decline, increased anxiety, and metabolic disorders. The scientists demonstrated that safranal does indeed enter the bloodstream after administration, indicating that the extract has biological availability.
A higher dose reduced anxious behavior and improved the recognition of new objects—a measure of memory function. These changes were accompanied by a reorganization of signaling molecules in the brain related to stress, emotions, and neuroplasticity. A lower dose, in turn, helped slow age-related weight loss and affected genes regulating fat metabolism in the liver.
The authors emphasize that this is a preclinical study, and the results cannot be directly translated to humans.
