1. Introduction
depression, anxiety
According to animal studies, saffron and its main volatile compound safranal may reduce biological and behavioral signs of acute stress. However, little is known about its impact in humans. This study investigated the acute effect of a saffron extract and safranal on the biological and psychological stress responses in healthy men experiencing a laboratory stress procedure. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over study, 19 volunteers aged 18–25 received a single dose of 30 mg saffron extract (Safr’InsideStress may be defined as “a particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding their resources and endangering his or her wellbeing” [In modern life, people may be exposed daily to different sources of stress, such as constant digital connection, heavy workload, changes in sleep wake schedules, or fear of climate change. It has been shown that chronic stress is associated with an increase in the global prevalence of mental and physical health problems, such as anxiety and depression [Among natural alternatives, saffron extract produced from the dried stigma of Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of a saffron extract and its isolated main volatile compound tested as synthetic safranal on the biological and psychological responses induced by an acute validated laboratory stress procedure in healthy young men.