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

Safranal is an effective anticonvulsant in animal models, shown to act as an agonist at GABAA receptors.

[1][2] Safranal also exhibits high antioxidant activity,[3][4] along with cytotoxicity towards cancer cells in vitro.

[5] One of its anticancer mechanisms of action involves disruption of the normal assembly dynamics of cellular microtubules.

[6] It has also been shown to have antidepressant properties in animals and pilot studies in humans.