{
  "slug": "saffron",
  "name": "Saffron (Crocus sativus)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "Saffron",
    "Crocus sativus L. stigma extract",
    "Crocin",
    "Safranal",
    "affron"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Serotonergic modulation (crocin/safranal inhibit 5-HT reuptake; proposed antidepressant mechanism in research models)",
    "Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activity of safranal",
    "Antioxidant / free-radical scavenging via carotenoid crocin (retinal + neuronal oxidative-stress reduction)",
    "NF-kB pathway suppression (anti-inflammatory)"
  ],
  "target": [
    "5-HT transporter (SERT)",
    "Monoamine oxidase (MAO)",
    "Retinal photoreceptor oxidative-stress markers",
    "NF-kB inflammatory cascade"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "mood / depression-rating symptom scales (research-context)",
    "retinal function / age-related macular degeneration markers (research-context)",
    "glycemic + waist-circumference metabolic markers (research-context)"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "MOOD",
    "NEURO",
    "VISION",
    "METABOLISM",
    "ENDO"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "A",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 3,
  "dosage_range": "28-30 mg/day standardized stigma/petal extract is the dominant mood-RCT dose (6-8 wk); 20 mg/day for retinal/AMD trials (3-6+ months); 30-100 mg/day in metabolic trials. affron (3.5% Lepticrosalides) is the most-studied branded spec. Educational reference, not a dosing recommendation.",
  "safety_notes": "Generally well tolerated at 30-100 mg/day in 6-12 wk RCTs (AE rate ~placebo; mild GI upset, dry mouth, dizziness); meta-analyses found no adverse effect on renal or liver markers. Doses >=200 mg/day may cause adverse effects; very large doses are toxic. Avoid high-dose use in pregnancy (traditional uterotonic concern); theoretical serotonin-syndrome risk when combined with SSRIs/SNRIs warrants medical consultation. Not a substitute for prescribed antidepressant medication.",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "GRAS as a flavoring/spice (long food-use history); legal dietary-supplement ingredient under DSHEA (structure/function claims only); no FDA-authorized disease claim",
    "efsa": "Marketable as a traditional food / flavoring ingredient; EFSA has NOT authorized any specific saffron health claim — functional copy limited to ingredient-fact / mechanism description",
    "anvisa": "Permitted as a food flavoring; as a supplement ingredient subject to ANVISA approval (RDC 243/2018); no Anexo V functional claim authorized for saffron"
  },
  "authorized_claims": [],
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/saffron/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "cognitive-support",
    "eye-protection"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "high-stress"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-13",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}