Affron (Crocus sativus) (Crocus sativus)

Affron is a patented, standardized extract of Crocus sativus stigmas, standardized to a minimum of 3.5% lepticrosalides (a collective term for the key apocarotenoid bioactives). Primary bioactive compounds include: Safranal (volatile aldehyde responsible for aroma, ~0.02–0.04% in standardized extract, contributes to neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects), Crocin (water-soluble carotenoid glycoester, ~2–3% in standardized extract, primary antioxidant pigment), Crocetin (aglycone of crocin, ~0.1–0.5%, lipid-soluble, crosses blood-brain barrier more readily than crocin), Picrocrocin (bitter glycoside precursor to safranal, ~1–2%, contributes to bitterness and bioactivity). Macronutrient content is negligible at typical supplemental doses (28–88 mg/day): carbohydrates <1g, protein <0.1g, fat <0.01g per dose. Micronutrients present in trace amounts at supplemental doses include manganese (~0.02mg/dose), potassium (~1–2mg/dose), and riboflavin (~0.001mg/dose — insufficient to be nutritionally meaningful. Affron's bioavailability is notably superior to raw saffron due to standardization; crocin bioavailability is enhanced by its water-solubility, while crocetin absorption is enhanced in the presence of dietary fats. The extract is produced via a proprietary cold extraction process (Pharmactive Biotech Products) preserving thermolabile compounds like safranal that may degrade in conventional saffron processing. Total antioxidant capacity is high relative to extract mass, with ORAC-equivalent values estimated at ~3,500–5,000 µmol TE/g extract based on comparable standardized saffron extract data.