The Phytochemical Safranal from Saffron Shows Promise Against Brain Inflammation Caused by COVID-19
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 26, 2025 2 hours, 1 minute ago
Medical News: Scientists are increasingly turning to natural compounds to help explain and possibly reduce lingering health problems linked to COVID-19. One such compound is safranal, a key aromatic phytochemical component found in saffron. In a new study, researchers explored whether safranal could protect immune cells and brain related cells from damage triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is believed to play a role in long term neurological symptoms seen after infection.
A saffron derived compound may help protect brain cells from COVID related inflammation and energy damage
Who Conducted the Study
The research team came from several respected institutions in Italy. These included the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation of the National Research Council of Italy in Palermo, the University of Milan Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, the University of Palermo Department of Biomedicine Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, and the Department of Biological Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies at the University of Palermo.
Why the Brain and Immune System Matter
Many COVID-19 patients report brain fog memory issues headaches and mood changes. Scientists believe these problems may stem from inflammation in the brain and damage to mitochondria, the tiny power plants inside cells. When mitochondria fail, cells struggle to produce energy and harmful molecules build up, worsening inflammation and cell injury.
How the Research Was Done
The researchers tested three saffron derived compounds on human immune cells taken from healthy volunteers and on microglia, which are immune cells that protect the brain. They exposed these cells to the spike protein to mimic some effects of the virus. They then measured inflammation markers, harmful oxidative stress, and mitochondrial health.
Key Findings Explained Simply
All saffron compounds showed antioxidant effects, meaning they helped neutralize harmful molecules. However, safranal stood out. It reduced inflammatory signals such as IL one beta and TNF alpha, both known to fuel immune overreactions. In brain immune cells, safranal lowered inflammation caused by the spike protein by more than one third.
Even more important, the spike protein severely damaged mitochondria, reducing their ability to function properly. Safranal helped restore mitochondrial activity and balance, suggesting it protected cells from energy failure. These combined effects show that safranal worked on several harmful pathways at the same time.
Why This Matters
This
Medical News report highlights that safranal did not simply block one problem but addressed inflammation oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage together. This multi-level action is especially important for complex conditions like Neuro COVID, where many damaging processes occur at once.
>What Comes Next
Although the results are promising, the experiments were done in cells, not people. More animal studies and carefully designed human trials are needed before safranal can be recommended as a treatment.
Conclusion
The study strongly suggests that safranal could become an important candidate for protecting the brain and immune system from COVID related damage. By calming excessive inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, and restoring mitochondrial health, safranal offers a multi layered defense strategy. While clinical use is still far away, these findings provide a strong scientific foundation for future therapies targeting long term neurological complications.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Current Developments in Nutrition.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299125030914
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