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Saffron and Maca Evidence: What the Vigorus Blend Can Tell You
Quick answer
Vigorus lists maca, saffron, pine bark and grape skin inside a 570 mg blend with no per-ingredient amounts. A 2010 review found maca evidence for sexual function too limited to judge. Saffron has only small trials. Pine bark has the most trials, but for a branded extract. The label cannot tell you whether this capsule holds tested doses.
How strong is the evidence for each Vigorus botanical?
It ranges from thin to moderate. Pine bark has the most human trials. Maca and saffron have small or limited studies. Grape skin is mostly known for its plant compounds, not for trials in men.
| Blend ingredient | Blend position | Main research | Evidence strength | Amount in Vigorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine bark extract | 3rd of 6 | 39 randomized trials of a branded extract, many areas | Moderate, brand-specific | Not published |
| Maca root extract | 4th of 6 | A 2010 systematic review of sexual function trials | Limited | Not published |
| Grape skin extract | 5th of 6 | Polyphenol and resveratrol research | Indirect | Not published |
| Saffron stigmas extract | 6th of 6 | Small trials on mood and sexual function | Limited | Not published |
The last column is the same on every row. That single fact shapes everything else on this page. Citrulline and carnitine, the first two blend ingredients, are covered in our citrulline post.
What does research say about maca root?
Not enough to draw a conclusion. A 2010 systematic review gathered the randomized trials of maca for sexual function. The authors found the trials were few, small and mixed in quality. They judged the evidence too limited to say maca works (Shin et al., 2010).
Maca is a root vegetable from the high Andes in Peru. People there eat it as food, often cooked or dried into flour. As a supplement it is sold as a powder or an extract.
What the review means for a buyer
- A handful of small trials is a starting point, not proof.
- The trials used stated maca doses. Vigorus does not state one.
- Maca sits fourth in the blend, so its share is likely small.
What does research say about saffron?
The evidence is limited. Saffron has been tested in a small number of short trials, mostly on mood and on sexual function. The groups were small, and larger, longer studies are still needed before firm claims can be made.
Saffron comes from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower. It takes a great many flowers to make a small amount, which is why the spice is so costly.
Last place on the blend list matters here. If the label follows the usual most-to-least order, saffron is the smallest share of 570 mg. Cost points the same way, since saffron is one of the priciest spices sold.
What does research say about the pine bark in Vigorus?
Pine bark has the deepest research pile of the four. A 2024 review counted 39 randomized, placebo-controlled human trials of Pycnogenol, a branded French maritime pine bark extract. The trials covered many areas, including cardiovascular health (Weichmann et al., 2024).
There are two catches. First, the Vigorus label says pine (Pinus pinaster) bark extract. It does not say Pycnogenol, and extracts from the same tree can differ in how they are made. Second, the amount in the capsule is not published.
Pros
- Dozens of controlled human trials exist
- Some trials looked at blood vessels and circulation
- The species on the label matches the studied tree
Cons
- The label does not name a branded extract
- Trials used stated doses; Vigorus prints none
- Trials tested pine bark alone, not in a six-part blend
Why is grape skin extract in the Vigorus blend?
Grape skins are rich in polyphenols, the plant compounds that give red grapes their color. Resveratrol is the best known of them.
Most interest in grape skin comes from lab and animal work on those compounds. Trials in men that match the sales page goals are scarce. The label does not say whether the extract is standardized to any resveratrol level, and it does not give an amount.
| Question | Answer from the label |
|---|---|
| Which plant part? | Skin (Vitis vinifera) |
| Standardized to resveratrol? | Not published |
| Milligrams per capsule? | Not published |
| Position in blend | 5th of 6 |
What can the Vigorus blend label tell you, and what can't it?
The label tells you what is in the capsule. It does not tell you how much of each botanical, so it cannot tell you whether any tested dose is present.
What the label does tell you
- The six blend ingredients, with plant species and parts.
- The total blend weight: 570 mg per capsule.
- The likely order by weight, if the usual rule applies.
- The printed doses outside the blend: niacin 20 mg and zinc 11 mg.
What the label leaves out
- The milligrams of maca, saffron, pine bark or grape skin.
- Whether any extract is a branded, studied version.
- Any standardization, such as a resveratrol percentage.
- Any study of the finished formula.
The sales page says Vigorus is made to support libido, circulation, and healthy testosterone within the normal range. The research above does not test those claims for this product. A fair buyer reads the botanicals as small extras, not as study doses.
How should a buyer use this evidence before ordering Vigorus?
Use it to set expectations and to screen for safety. Then let the price and the refund window guide the choice.
Match goals to evidence
If you want a studied dose of one herb, a single-ingredient product with a printed amount fits that goal better.
Screen your medicines
Circulation medicines need a clinician's view first because of the pine bark and citrulline.
See a doctor for the root cause
Sexual or erection problems can signal heart disease or diabetes. Get checked before any supplement.
Buy through the authorized route
The FDA warns some men's products hide drugs such as sildenafil (FDA, 2026).
Track your own response
Take one capsule a day and note changes. The 60-day guarantee starts at purchase.
For a wider way to compare products, read how to choose a men's libido supplement. Pack prices and cost per day are on the pricing page.
Maca, saffron and the Vigorus blend: questions buyers ask
How much maca is in one Vigorus capsule?
The label does not say. Maca root extract is one of six ingredients in a 570 mg proprietary blend, and the per-ingredient amounts are not published.
Is the pine bark in Vigorus the same as Pycnogenol?
The label lists pine (Pinus pinaster) bark extract. It does not name a brand. Most of the published trials used Pycnogenol, so their results may not carry over.
Is saffron safe to take as a supplement?
Saffron is a common spice, and small supplement amounts are widely used. Very large amounts can be harmful. Vigorus lists saffron as part of a 570 mg blend taken once a day.
Why does ingredient order in a blend matter?
Blends usually list ingredients from most to least by weight. Maca, grape skin and saffron come fourth, fifth and sixth in Vigorus, so each is likely a small share.
Has anyone tested the Vigorus formula itself?
No published study of the finished Vigorus formula was found. The research discussed here tested single ingredients, usually at stated doses.
Does grape skin extract mean resveratrol?
Grape skins contain resveratrol and other polyphenols. The Vigorus label does not say whether the extract is standardized to resveratrol or how much it holds.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2026). Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products.
- Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, Lim HS, Ernst E (2010). Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 10:44.
- Weichmann F, Rohdewald P (2024). Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical studies. Frontiers in Nutrition.
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