Reduction of metabolic and behavioral signs of acute stress in male Wistar rats by saffron water extract and its constituent safranal

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Location of cannula tips in the amygdala of animals used in the dose-response studies and experiments involving transient inhibition. Symbol (□) indicates where the cannula tips were placed in the amygdala.

Figure 2.  Plasma corticosterone level increment after foot shock stress in rats received intraperitoneal saffron extract or safranal. Plasma corticosterone level was increased in the saline-treated group but in the extract and safranal-treated groups plasma corticosterone level did not change. Data shown as mean ± SEM, for 8/9 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Figure 3.  Plasma corticosterone level increment after foot shock stress in rats received intra-amygdala saffron extract or safranal. Plasma corticosterone level was increased in the saline as well as extract and safranal-treated groups. Data shown as mean ± SEM, for 6/8 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Figure 4.  The anorexic time (the time elapsed for initiation of food consumption) after foot shock stress in rats received intraperitoneal saffron extract or safranal. The anorexic time was increased in the saline-treated group but in the extract and safranal-treated groups, the anorexic time did not change. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 8/9 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Figure 5.  The anorexic time (the time elapsed for initiation of food consumption) after foot shock stress in rats received intra-amygdala saffron extract or safranal. The anorexic time was increased in the saline as well as extract and safranal-treated groups. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 6/8 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Table 1.  Effects of intraperitoneal administration of saffron water extract on dopamine-related behaviors modified by foot shock stress in rats.

Behavior Groups	Copping time (sec)	Locomotion (counts/10 min)	Rearing (counts/10 min)	Sniffing (counts/10 min)
Non-stressed	41.5 ± 3.22	35 ± 2.5	34 ± 3.22	68 ± 8
Stressed	241 ± 31***	3 ± 0.5***	3 ± 1***	6.25 ± 2***
Extract (1 mg/kg)	24 ± 2.6	3.25 ± 1	41 ± 5.3	73 ± 12
Extract (5 mg/kg)	26 ± 4	4.33 ± 1.7	39 ± 12	58 ± 8
Extract (10 mg/kg)	51 ± 4	5 ± 1	39.8 ± 3	56 ± 8.9

Sniffing, rearing and locomotion was decreased in stressed rats treated by saline and were increased when the animals pretreated by saffron extract. In contrast, coping time was decreased. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 8/9 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Table 2.  Effects of intra-amygdala administration of saffron water extract on dopamine-related behaviors modified by foot shock stress in rats.

Behavior Groups	Copping time (sec)	Locomotion (counts/10 min)	Rearing (counts/10 min)	Sniffing (counts/10 min)
Non-stressed	42 ± 5.3***	36.34 ± 2.3***	38.1 ± 2.01***	65.35 ± 10.5***
Stressed	217.2 ± 17.45	4.21 ± 1.03	6.75 ± 1.03	9.34 ± 1.25
Extract (1 µg/rat)	287 ± 42.1	5.12 ± 0.891	9.51 ± 1.32	7.95 ± 1.42
Extract (5 µg/rat)	231 ± 17.3	4.87 ± 0.543	5.21 ± 1.31	7.09 ± 1.02
Extract (10 µg/rat)	212.5 ± 13.24	5.126 ± 0.454	5.1 ± 0.2	9.88 ± 1.75

Sniffing, rearing and locomotion were decreased in stressed rats treated by saline, saffron extract or safranal. In addition, coping time also was increased in these animals. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 6/8 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Table 3.  Effects of intraperitoneal administration of safranal on dopamine-related behaviors modified by foot shock stress in rats.

Behavior Groups	Copping time (sec)	Locomotion (counts/10 min)	Rearing (counts/10 min)	Sniffing (counts/10 min)
Non-stressed	41.5 ± 3.22	35 ± 2.5	34 ± 3.22	68 ± 8
Stressed	241 ± 31***	3 ± 0.5***	3 ± 1***	6.25 ± 2***
Safranal (1 mg/kg)	34 ± 4	4.64 ± 1	45 ± 6.12	67.89 ± 8.1
Safranal (5 mg/kg)	31.2 ± 3.65	5.11 ± 2.1	41.2 ± 9.8	61.211 ± 6.54
Safranal (10 mg/kg)	48.33 ± 3.54	6.34 ± 1.21	43.12 ± 4.23	63.42 ± 7.65

Sniffing, rearing and locomotion was decreased in stressed rats treated by saline and were increased when the animals pretreated by saffron extract. In contrast, coping time was decreased. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 8/9 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.

Table 4.  Effects of intra-amygdala administration of safranal on dopamine-related behaviors modified by foot shock stress in rats.

Behavior Groups	Copping time (sec)	Locomotion (counts/10 min)	Rearing (counts/10 min)	Sniffing (counts/10 min)
Non-stressed	42 ± 5.3***	36.34 ± 2.3***	38.1 ± 2.01***	65.35 ± 10.5***
Stressed	217.2 ± 17.45	4.21 ± 1.03	6.75 ± 1.03	9.34 ± 1.25
Safranal (1 µg/rat)	212.32 ± 23.2	4.32 ± 1.65	8.1 ± 2.12	9.32 ± 2.01
Safranal (5 µg/rat)	198.6 ± 21.3	3.45 ± 0.9	7.65 ± 2.1	6.56 ± 1.02
Safranal (10 µg/rat)	200.15 ± 21.3	4.23 ± 1.04	6.54 ± 1.2	7.658 ± 2.1

Sniffing, rearing and locomotion were decreased in stressed rats treated by saline, saffron extract or safranal. In addition, coping time also was increased in these animals. Data shown as mean ± SEM for 6/8 rats. ***p < 0.001 different from non-stressed group.