Saffron Extract Powder (Crocus sativus) — Bulk B2B Supplier
Saffron extract powder is a water-soluble 100:1 extract of Crocus sativus stigma — the source of the saffron spice — carrying the natural crocin colour compounds that give a luminous yellow-orange colour, along with saffron’s characteristic aroma and flavour, in a stable yellow powder for B2B and OEM use across beverages, rice dishes, dairy, bakery, confectionery and supplement blends. It is manufactured in bulk by Bionutricia Extract (Bionutricia Manufacturing Sdn Bhd), a JAKIM Halal, FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP and MeSTI manufacturer in Malaysia, with a Certificate of Analysis on every lot.
Quick facts for formulators
- Botanical / part: Crocus sativus (saffron), stigma
- Extraction ratio: 100:1
- Marker compound: crocins (natural saffron colour compounds), present
- Function: natural yellow-orange colour & characteristic saffron flavour for F&B and supplement blends
- Form / colour / odour: yellow non-free-flowing powder, characteristic odour
- Solubility: soluble in water · Moisture: 2–8% · pH: 4–6
- Typical serving / use: 250–750 mg · Particle: >95% / 60 mesh
- Pack sizes: 1 kg · 5 kg · 20 kg
- Certifications: JAKIM Halal · FSSC 22000 · GMP · HACCP · MeSTI · COA per lot
- Clean label: vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free (<20 ppm), not irradiated, porcine DNA absent, no listed allergens
- Shelf life: 24 months sealed, cool & dry · Origin: Malaysia
- Heavy metals: As <0.1 · Pb <0.2 · Cd <0.5 · Hg <0.1 · Sb <0.1 ppm · Microbial: within limits
What is saffron extract powder?
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is the dried stigma of the saffron crocus, hand-harvested and prized for centuries as the world’s most valuable spice for the luminous yellow-orange colour and unmistakable aroma it lends to food. Its colour comes from a group of water-soluble carotenoid glycosides called crocins, while its characteristic aroma and flavour come from compounds such as safranal and picrocrocin. Bionutricia’s saffron extract powder is a 100:1 extract of the stigma, concentrated and dried into a stable, yellow, water-soluble powder that carries the natural crocins, giving formulators a consistent, easy-to-handle colour-and-flavour raw material in place of variable whole-thread inputs.
What is it used for in formulation?
It is used as a bulk raw colour-and-flavour ingredient wherever the signature saffron hue and note are wanted: rice dishes such as biryani, paella, risotto and jewelled rice; beverages and ready-to-drink products; dairy, ice cream and desserts; bakery and confectionery; seasoning and spice blends; and supplement drink powders. Because it is water-soluble it disperses readily into liquid systems, and it is dosed to the target colour depth and flavour intensity — for supplement and beverage formats a typical serving is 250–750 mg. Saffron is often paired with complementary spices or natural colours to build a full sensory profile.
Typical specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Botanical source / part | Crocus sativus (saffron), stigma |
| Extraction ratio | 100:1 |
| Marker compound | Crocins (natural colour compounds), present |
| Appearance / colour | Non-free-flowing powder, yellow |
| Odour | Characteristic |
| Solubility in water | Soluble |
| Moisture | 2–8% |
| pH | 4–6 |
| Particle size / mesh | > 95% through 60 mesh |
| Typical serving / use | 250–750 mg |
| Porcine DNA | Absent |
| Heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Sb) | As < 0.1 ppm, Pb < 0.2 ppm, Cd < 0.5 ppm, Hg < 0.1 ppm, Sb < 0.1 ppm |
| Microbial (APC, Y&M, coliform, E. coli) | APC < 10⁴ cfu/g, Y&M < 10³ cfu/g, coliforms < 10² cfu/g, E. coli absent |
| Certifications | JAKIM Halal, FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, MeSTI |
| Shelf life | 24 months sealed, cool & dry |
| Pack sizes | 1 kg, 5 kg, 20 kg |
| Country of origin | Malaysia |
Saffron’s actives and the published clinical research
Three well-characterised constituents define saffron and are all measurable by internationally recognised methods. Crocins — water-soluble carotenoid glycosides — carry the colour; picrocrocin carries the taste; and safranal carries the aroma. The ISO 3632 method grades saffron spectrophotometrically on these three markers — colouring strength at ~440 nm (crocins), bittering power at ~257 nm (picrocrocin) and odour strength at ~330 nm (safranal) — while individual crocins and safranal are further resolved by HPLC. This is the same marker set formulators use to specify saffron in a finished product.
How the actives behave in the body. Published pharmacokinetic work shows that dietary crocins are deglycosylated to crocetin by intestinal enzymes before uptake (Asai et al. 2005; Xi et al. 2007). In healthy adults, crocetin appears in plasma with peak levels at roughly 4–5 hours and a half-life of about 6–7 hours (Umigai et al. 2011). Preclinical models report that crocetin distributes widely and crosses the blood–brain barrier (Lautenschläger et al. 2015). Mechanistic reviews of the clinical literature describe serotonin-signalling modulation, HPA-axis (stress-hormone) modulation and antioxidant / anti-inflammatory signalling as the actions under study (Lopresti & Drummond 2014).
Beyond colour and flavour, standardised saffron stigma extracts — typically characterised by their combined safranal and crocin content and dosed at around 28–30 mg/day — have been studied in a substantial body of independent human clinical research:
| Published study | Design / participants | Dose & duration | Reported outcome (per the study) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kell et al. 2017, Complementary Therapies in Medicine — standardised saffron stigma extract | Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT; n=128 healthy adults | 28 mg/day, 4 weeks | Improved mood and reduced stress vs placebo; a 22 mg/day arm did not separate from placebo — an honest dose threshold. |
| Agha-Hosseini et al. 2008, BJOG — saffron stigma | Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT; n=50 women with PMS | 30 mg/day, 2 menstrual cycles | 76% of the saffron group achieved ≥50% symptom reduction vs 8% on placebo. |
| Meta-analysis of randomised trials in major depressive disorder | Pooled RCTs | ~30 mg/day, ≥6 weeks | Efficacy comparable to standard antidepressants, with favourable tolerability. |
| Decentralised RCT in adults with moderate insomnia (2025) | Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT | Standardised saffron extract, daily | Improved self-reported sleep quality vs placebo. |
Important: the studies above are published by independent researchers and are cited for scientific context only. Bionutricia supplies saffron as a bulk food-grade colour-and-flavour ingredient and makes no medicinal claims. Whether a finished product may carry any health claim — and whether it is regulated as a food or as a supplement — is determined at the brand owner’s finished-product stage (NPRA in Malaysia, HSA, GACC, EFSA, FDA and equivalents), not at the ingredient stage. Bionutricia can supply saffron extract to a defined crocin / safranal specification and help you navigate that claims interface.
Why source saffron extract from Bionutricia?
Bionutricia Extract has manufactured standardized plant and spice extracts since 2006 under a full halal and international food-safety stack (JAKIM Halal, FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, MeSTI), issuing a Certificate of Analysis on every lot with porcine DNA confirmed absent. Its patented (MY-188945-A) green-biotechnology process concentrates saffron’s natural crocins into a clean, water-soluble powder without added fillers, flavours, preservatives or artificial colours, and bulk OEM, custom standardisation and packing are available for brand and manufacturer customers building premium colour-and-flavour and natural-spice products.
Frequently asked questions
Is it halal certified? Yes — JAKIM Halal (verifiable on the Halal Malaysia portal), plus FSSC 22000, GMP, HACCP, MeSTI; porcine DNA absent; COA per lot.
Standardized to what / is a COA available? 100:1 water-soluble stigma extract carrying the natural crocin colour compounds; yellow non-free-flowing powder, moisture 2–8%, pH 4–6; COA per lot.
What colour & flavour does it give? A luminous yellow-orange colour from crocins, plus saffron’s characteristic aroma and flavour from compounds such as safranal and picrocrocin (supplied as a compositional colour/flavour ingredient; no health claims).
How is it dosed / is it water soluble? Soluble in water; typically used at 250–750 mg per serving in supplement and beverage formats, or to the target colour and flavour intensity in food.
Botanical source & origin? Crocus sativus stigma (the saffron spice), manufactured into extract powder in Malaysia.
Clean-label option? Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free (<20 ppm), not irradiated; no listed allergens; no added fillers, flavours, preservatives or artificial colours.
Applications? Rice dishes (biryani, paella, risotto), beverages and RTD, dairy and desserts, bakery and confectionery, seasoning blends, and supplement drink powders.
Pack sizes, MOQ & lead time / OEM & samples? 1 kg · 5 kg · 20 kg; pre-order packing ~1–2 weeks; bulk MOQ & pricing on quotation; OEM, custom standardisation and paid samples for serious B2B enquiries.
