Saffron Extract Satiety Agent for Weight Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for weight management, such as drugs and invasive surgical procedures, are either ineffective or come with significant risks, and existing satiety agents often have drawbacks like short-lasting effects, unappetizing formulations, instability during manufacturing and storage, and potential interactions with other substances.

Innovation Solution

The use of saffron extract containing safranal, picrocrocin, and crocin as an active satiety agent, which can be administered orally in various forms, providing a long-lasting feeling of fullness without the need for lifestyle or diet modifications, and is stable during production and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If drugs that suppress digestive enzyme activity are used, then weight loss effect is improved, but safety and side effects worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight loss effectVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces long-term enzyme suppressant drugs with short-acting satiety agents that work temporarily during meals, then are eliminated naturally, avoiding cumulative side effects while maintaining weight control effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces satiety agents as intermediaries between hunger signals and food consumption, providing a natural bridge that reduces calorie intake without directly suppressing digestive enzymes or causing harmful side effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If gastric band surgery is performed, then satiety effect is improved, but surgical risk worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesatiety effectVSAvoidsurgical risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical gastric band system with chemical satiety agents that act on the gastrointestinal tract, achieving similar satiety effects through pharmacological action rather than physical constriction, thereby eliminating surgical risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses temporary satiety agents that work for the duration of their elimination from the body, providing effective weight control without permanent implants or surgical interventions, allowing natural return to baseline function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of moving object

If food replacement products are used, then satiety effect is improved, but consumer acceptance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesatiety effectVSAvoidconsumer acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops satiety agents that can be incorporated into various food products and consumption forms, making them universally acceptable and easy to integrate into different diets and lifestyles rather than requiring specific replacement foods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of satiety agents to match natural food characteristics in terms of taste, texture, and appearance, making them indistinguishable from regular food and highly acceptable to consumers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of energy

If existing satiety agents are used, then weight control effect is improved, but formulation stability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight control effectVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite formulations combining multiple satiety agents with complementary stability profiles, where the combination provides both effective weight control and enhanced formulation stability during manufacturing and storage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces stabilizing excipients and delivery systems as intermediaries that protect sensitive satiety agents from degradation during processing and storage, maintaining both effectiveness and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2010012B1Use of an extract of saffron as satiety agent for the treatment of overweight
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 BOUR CEDRIC
  • EP2010012B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2010012B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2010012B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Use of saffron and its main constituents such as safranal and/or picrocrocin and/or crocin and/or their derivatives for production of an active appetite reducer for the treatment of disorders due to overweight.