Safranal

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Safranal
Image:Safranal.png
Chemical name	2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3- cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehyde
Chemical formula	C₁₀H₁₄O
Molecular mass	150.21 g/mol
CAS number	[116-26-7]
Density	0.9734 g/cm³
Melting point	? °C
Boiling point	70 °C at 1 mmHg
SMILES	CC1(C)C(C=O)=C(C)C=CC1
Disclaimer and references

Safranal is an organic compound isolated from saffron, the spice consisting of the stigmas of crocus flowers (Crocus sativus). It is the constituent primarily responsible for the aroma of saffron.

It is believed that safranal is a degradation product of the carotenoid zeaxanthin via the intermediacy of picrocrocin.

[edit] Pharmacology

Safranal is an effective anticonvulsant shown to act as an agonist at GABA_A receptors <ref name="anticonvulsant-Hosseinzadeh">Hosseinzadeh H, Talebzadeh F. (2005). "Anticonvulsant evaluation of safranal and crocin from Crocus sativus in mice.". Fitoterapia. 76 (7–8): 722–4. PMID 16253437.</ref><ref name="protective-effect-Hosseinzadeh">Hosseinzadeh H, Sadeghnia HR. (2006). "Protective effect of safranal on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in the rat: Involvement of GABAergic and opioids systems.". Phytomedicine. ? (?): ?. PMID 16707256.</ref>. Safranal also exhibits high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity <ref name="Safranal-a-constituent-Hosseinzadeh">Hosseinzadeh H, Sadeghnia HR. (2005). "Safranal, a constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron), attenuated cerebral ischemia induced oxidative damage in rat hippocampus.". J Pharm Pharm Sci. 8 (3): 394–9. PMID 16401389.</ref><ref name="Radical-scavenging-Assimopoulou">Assimopoulou AN, Sinakos Z, Papageorgiou VP. (2005). "Radical scavenging activity of Crocus sativus L. extract and its bioactive constituents.". Phytother Res. 19 (11): 997–1000. PMID 16317646.</ref>, along with cytotoxicity towards cancer cells in vitro <ref name="Crocin-safranal-Escribano">Escribano J, Alonso GL, Coca-Prados M, Fernandez JA. (1996). "Crocin, safranal and picrocrocin from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.". Cancer Lett. 100 (1–2): 23–30. PMID 8620447.</ref>.