Comparison effects of acute and chronic intra-Peritoneal injections of saffron stigma extract and safranal-Crocin mixture on anxiety, in mice

Saffron is a highly consumed food seasoning that is important due to its anti-anxiety properties. This study aimed at comparing the effects of acute and chronic injection of saffron stigma extract and Crocin-Safranal mixture (CSM) on the anxiety in mice. In this experimental study, 56 male mice assigned to seven groups, treatments were administered as acute or chronic intra-peritoneal injections and anxiety degree as measured by the use of plus maze. Results showed that acute injection of saffron stigma extract at 50 and 150 mg/kg and CSM at all 3 doses significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arm compared to the control. Also, saffron extract at acute dose of 50 mg/kg and CSM at acute dose of 0.68 mg/kg significantly increased percentage of time spent in the open arm compared to the same chronic doses. Overall, the comparison of saffron extract and CSM doses showed that 2.04 and 4.08 mg/kg acute and chronic doses of CSM significantly increased percentage of time spent in the open arm compared to saffron extract at 150 and 300 mg/kg (p<0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that acute intra-peritoneal doses of saffron stigma extract, in a dose dependent manner, and CSM, at all doses applied, had anti-anxiety effects. Furthermore, 50 mg/kg saffron extract and 4.08 mg/kg CSM had the highest anti-anxiety effect at acute phase and acute doses of saffron extract and CSM were generally more effective than chronic doses in reducing anxiety.