Bolstering saffron quality: Pharmactive upgrades eco-friendly extraction process

30 Oct 2019 --- Spain-based Pharmactive Biotech has optimized the quality and concentration of its saffron (Crocus sativus L.) extract, affron, with a natural proprietary extraction process called AFF ON Cool-Tech. The new technology maintains the traditional Mediterranean botanical’s freshness and purity while improving the value of the clean-label product. This process is gentle on the plant to ensure its active compounds remain potent. Pharmactive’s Affron is touted as helping with relaxation, mental and physical balance and maintaining a positive mood.

“It has been a long journey to develop such an efficient extraction process while facing the key challenge of preserving and extracting the active compounds at low temperatures,” Jean-Marie Raymond, CEO and Founder of Pharmactive tells NutritionInsight. He notes the company has even carried out the task of developing custom-made production machines.

AFF ON Cool-Tech produces the highest concentration of saffron-sourced Lepticrosalides actives currently on the market, as tested and shown by HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector).

In a three-step production process, Pharmactive creates highly concentrated potent affron with long-lasting bioactive compound stable for up to 36 months. To create a liquid solution, the saffron stigmas are mixed with simple natural compounds in the raw material preparation process. Then, the stigmas are extracted, concentrated and purified at low temperatures. In the drying process, the stigmas’ actives are conserved and protected from outside elements such as air, humidity and contamination to ensure product purity.

Raymond says that affron’s strong clinical studies backing helps consumers enjoy a cleaner product. Indeed, the company notes that no side effects have been reported from any of the more than 400 participants in the various affron studies.

“Pharmactive’s AFF ON Cool-Tech production expertise, as well as its distinct saffron insights and agronomy partnerships, are vital to creating a superior saffron extract backed by clinical research targeting cognitive health,” Jorge Rodríguez, Head of Production at Pharmactive, maintains.

Saffron farmers have only eight weeks in the fall to handpick the flowers before they wilt again. Source: Pharmactive.Low waste generation
The AFF ON Cool-Tech generates low waste because it does not require huge amounts of raw material, Raymond explains. “We can carry out a high-performance concentration process that extracts the maximum quantity of bioactive compounds from the raw material and uniquely preserves its quality.”

The company’s carbon footprint is minimized due to the extraction process’ cool temperatures. By avoiding the use of power to dramatically increase the heat, fewer energy sources are consumed. “It influences the supplement industry by providing technological innovation that helps care for our planet. This is while still providing critical beneficial properties for consumers,” he adds.

“AFF ON Cool-Tech does not use harmful solvents, synthetics or additives of any kind,” Rodríguez adds.

Raymond affirms that environmental consciousness is important to Pharmactive’s business because the company is committed to sustainability. “We want to offer unique green products to our customers so they can stand out from their competition and benefit from a high-concentrated extract therapeutic properties.”

Worth its weight in gold
Pharmactive cultivates saffron in its own fields in the Spanish Castilla-La Mancha region, where Crocus sativus L. has been grown and nurtured for centuries. The dry plains and warm Mediterranean climate of the region present ideal conditions for the cultivation of saffron. The company works in close cooperation with its saffron farmers, respecting the region’s heritage and indigenous populations’ saffron expertise.

Because saffron only blooms for eight short weeks in the fall, time is of the essence. The stigmas are incredibly delicate and must, therefore, be handpicked to avoid damage. “The flowers must be carefully handpicked, one at a time, within the few hours between dawn and midday. We do this to avoid the wilting of the delicate stigmas that form the saffron threads,” explains Alberto Espinel, Head of R&D of Pharmactive. The company notes that this meticulous harvesting process makes saffron one of the most expensive botanicals in the world, thus it is “worth its weight in gold.”

R&D investment
Raymond concludes that Pharmactive will continue to invest in R&D as well as product optimization in the future – not only for its affron extract but for other ingredients as well. “This will continue bringing innovation to our customers and final consumers as a core of our high-quality offering. The know-how that Pharmactive has gained during the development of this technology opens up new ways to preserve the active components naturally without the need of adding synthetics or submit to harmful processes. Then, it can be applied to our other extracts.”

By Anni Schleicher

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