Branded saffron ingredient Affron gains U.S. patent for mood support

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Affron, the flagship branded saffron ingredient from Pharmactive Biotech Products (Spain), has gained a U.S. patent for supporting mood. Specifically, the patent “protects the proprietary composition and dosages of Affron that renders it uniquely effective as a natural mood-support agent,” the company’s press release states.

Affron’s recommended daily dose is 28 mg, which Pharmactive says is the lowest daily dose on the market. The ingredient “is standardized to Lepticrosalides, a proprietary and unique pool of bioactives responsible for saffron’s activity, crimson color, and prized organoleptic properties,” the firm says. The ingredient is distributed exclusively by Gencor (Irvine, CA) in the U.S.

Affron is backed by eight published human clinical studies including more than 740 subjects. These trials showed benefits for mental wellbeing and sleep quality, including helping to manage low mood and occasional stress and inducing positive feelings. Study subjects spanned menopausal women, adults, and teenagers.

To produce Affron, Pharmactive uses its water-based AFF On Cool-Tech extraction process “designed to optimize the preservation and concentration of the key active ingredients with minimal industrial processing, without chemicals, and minimal energy use.”