Global Ingredient Risk Index Botanical

Alfalfa Extract

Medicago sativa aerial parts extract

Also known as: alfalfa, alfalfa extract, lucerne, Medicago sativa

25 მარ 2026

MODERATE RISK 4.0/10 How?

This ingredient is classified as unclassified risk (GIRI score: 4.0/10).

Known Safety Concerns

Contains L-canavanine -- may trigger lupus-like reactions in susceptible individuals
Phytoestrogen content -- caution in hormone-sensitive cancers
Vitamin K content -- interaction with warfarin
Sprouts and seeds carry bacterial contamination risk (supplements are lower risk)

Contraindications

Contains L-canavanine -- may trigger lupus-like reactions in susceptible individuals
Phytoestrogen content -- caution in hormone-sensitive cancers

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Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

Alfalfa contains phytoestrogens (coumestrol) and vitamin K. High phytoestrogen content is relevant for hormone-sensitive conditions. Alfalfa sprouts and seeds contain L-canavanine, which can trigger lupus-like autoimmune reactions in susceptible individuals. The FDA has issued warnings about alfalfa sprout contamination with Salmonella and E. coli in whole food form.

Scientific Name: Medicago sativa aerial parts extract

Information not yet available for this ingredient profile.

SETI Score 51/100

Risk Level High risk

Scientific Confidence Low

Evidence Strength Limited

Key Benefit Botanical

Key Safety Concern Contains L-canavanine -- may trigger lupus-like reactions in susceptible individuals

Evidence Reviewed 9 PubMed studies

Scientific Confidence Low

Based on study quality, consistency, and recency

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

SETI Score 51/100

Risk Level High risk

Evidence Strength Limited

Main Benefit Botanical

Main Safety Concern Contains L-canavanine -- may trigger lupus-like reactions in susceptible individuals

Ingredient Alfalfa Extract

Scientific name Medicago sativa aerial parts extract

Scientific Evidence Overview

9 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or RCT)
Main clinical benefit observed: Botanical
Evidence consistency: High consistency across studies (100%)

Safety Signals

Contains L-canavanine -- may trigger lupus-like reactions in susceptible individuals
Phytoestrogen content -- caution in hormone-sensitive cancers
Vitamin K content -- interaction with warfarin
Sprouts and seeds carry bacterial contamination risk (supplements are lower risk)

Evidence Strength Limited

Final Scientific Assessment

The available scientific evidence for Alfalfa Extract indicates notable safety signals that warrant caution. Use should be considered carefully and monitored, particularly in sensitive populations or alongside other medications.

Ingredient Alfalfa Extract

Evidence reviewed 9 peer-reviewed studies (last 10 years)

Scientific name Medicago sativa aerial parts extract

51 /100

Total SETI Score

High risk

Evidence quality	9/40
Evidence consistency	20/20
Safety signals	2/20
Study recency	10/10
Evidence transparency	10/10

Evidence Summary

9 studies reviewed
0 high-quality studies (meta-analysis or systematic review)
0 studies identified benefits or no safety concern (GREEN)
9 studies reported limited or advisory safety evidence (YELLOW)

Evidence Policy

Only peer-reviewed scientific literature indexed in PubMed or comparable databases is included in this evaluation. Commercial websites, blogs, and marketing materials are excluded. All references include direct traceable links to source documents.

Last updated: 25 მარ 2026, 12:53

Evidence Distribution

9 Other / unclassified

Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Dietary alfalfa hay or lipid-soluble alfalfa extract may improve broiler growth, but fiber presence may be detrimental during Eimeria vaccine challenge. ↗

PMID 37639755 ↗

Journal Poult Sci

Year 2023

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37639755/

Fries-Craft K et al.. Dietary alfalfa hay or lipid-soluble alfalfa extract may improve broiler growth, but fiber presence may be detrimental during Eimeria vaccine challenge.. Poult Sci. 2023. PMID:37639755.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
In Vitro Bioactivities of Commonly Consumed Cereal, Vegetable, and Legume Seeds as Related to Their Bioactive Components: An Untargeted Metabolomics Approach Using… ↗

PMID 37627496 ↗

Journal Antioxidants (Basel)

Year 2023

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37627496/

Aloo SO et al.. In Vitro Bioactivities of Commonly Consumed Cereal, Vegetable, and Legume Seeds as Related to Their Bioactive Components: An Untargeted Metabolomics Approach Using UHPLC-QTOF-MS(2).. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023. PMID:37627496.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
The Antioxidant Effect of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Ethanolic Extract against Mercury Chloride (HgCl(2)) Toxicity in Rat Liver and Kidney: An In… ↗

PMID 34484406 ↗

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Year 2021

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34484406/

Raeeszadeh M et al.. The Antioxidant Effect of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Ethanolic Extract against Mercury Chloride (HgCl(2)) Toxicity in Rat Liver and Kidney: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021. PMID:34484406.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Pathological, and Behavioural Effects of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Extract on Brain Injury Caused by Nicotine in Male Rats. ↗

PMID 33747114 ↗

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Year 2021

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33747114/

Raeeszadeh M et al.. The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Pathological, and Behavioural Effects of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Extract on Brain Injury Caused by Nicotine in Male Rats.. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021. PMID:33747114.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Fast dereplication of xanthine oxidase-inhibiting compounds in alfalfa using comparative metabolomics. ↗

PMID 33642026 ↗

Journal Food Res Int

Year 2021

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33642026/

Hsu SJ et al.. Fast dereplication of xanthine oxidase-inhibiting compounds in alfalfa using comparative metabolomics.. Food Res Int. 2021. PMID:33642026.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
[Effect of consumption of alfalfa extract (Medicago sativa) on induced iron deficiency anemia in mice (Mus musculus)]. ↗

PMID 33206897 ↗

Journal Rev Salud Publica (Bogota)

Year 2018

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33206897/

Amaro-Terrazos JZ et al.. [Effect of consumption of alfalfa extract (Medicago sativa) on induced iron deficiency anemia in mice (Mus musculus)].. Rev Salud Publica (Bogota). 2018. PMID:33206897.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Influence of barley grain treated with alkaline compounds or organic extracts on ex vivo site and extent of digestion of starch. ↗

PMID 28728361 ↗

Journal Asian-Australas J Anim Sci

Year 2018

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28728361/

Naseroleslami R et al.. Influence of barley grain treated with alkaline compounds or organic extracts on ex vivo site and extent of digestion of starch.. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2018. PMID:28728361.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Effects of aqueous extract of alfalfa on hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. ↗

PMID 28203391 ↗

Journal Interv Med Appl Sci

Year 2016

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28203391/

Farsani MK et al.. Effects of aqueous extract of alfalfa on hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats.. Interv Med Appl Sci. 2016. PMID:28203391.
Observational / other LOW evidence YELLOW
Antioxidant effects of alfalfa can improve iron oxide nanoparticle damage: Invivo and invitro studies. ↗

PMID 27445214 ↗

Journal Regul Toxicol Pharmacol

Year 2016

Study type Observational / other

Evidence strength LOW evidence

PubMed link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27445214/

Sadeghi L et al.. Antioxidant effects of alfalfa can improve iron oxide nanoparticle damage: Invivo and invitro studies.. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016. PMID:27445214.

Q × L × D × S × 10 = 4.0 / 10

The GIRI Score is the product of four independently computed evidence components, each normalised to 0–1, then scaled to 0–10. Every component is derived exclusively from peer-reviewed references and regulatory data — no editorial judgement is applied.

0 of 10 approved references (score saturates at 10). More peer-reviewed studies = stronger evidence base.

Method: Q = number of approved references ÷ 10 (capped at 1.0)

50%

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies

Method: L = mean study-level weight across approved references. Level 1 (meta-analysis / systematic review) = 1.0; Level 2 (RCT) = 0.8; Level 3 (cohort/case-control) = 0.6; Level 4 (case report) = 0.4; Level 5 (animal / in-vitro) = 0.2.

Benefit

Risk

50%

Mixed or neutral — roughly equal benefit and risk signals

Method: D = (sum of risk-scored references − sum of benefit-scored references) ÷ total evidence score, then scaled from [−1, 1] to [0, 1]. 0.0 = pure benefit; 0.5 = neutral; 1.0 = pure risk.

50%

One or more monitoring-level safety signals active

Method: S = 0.5 (neutral baseline) + sum of active signal severity deltas ÷ 10. Severity deltas: Critical = +2.0, High = +1.5, Moderate = +1.0, Low = +0.5. Capped at 1.0.

0Q × 5L × 5D × 5S = 4.0 / 10

Final GIRI Score for Alfalfa Extract. Risk level thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

Full methodology & data sources

The GIRI Score is computed entirely from structured data — no editorial scoring or subjective weighting is applied at any step.

References: Only approved references are counted. Each reference is assigned an evidence level (L1–L5) and a direction (risk / neutral / benefit) by the reference manager or AI classifier.
Safety Signals: Sourced from regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others) and pharmacovigilance databases. Only active signals count toward the score.
Formula version: GIRI Score v3.7.0 — Q × L × D × S × 10.
Limitations: The score reflects published evidence and recorded signals as of the last update date. It is not a clinical risk assessment and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

MODERATE RISK 4.0/10

Based on available regulatory signals and scientific evidence, this ingredient presents a moderate safety concern. Caution is advised, particularly at high doses or in sensitive populations.

LOW
0–3.0

MODERATE
3.0–5.5

HIGH
5.5–7.5

CRITICAL
7.5–10

4.0

The score pin shows exactly where this ingredient falls on the fixed risk scale.

What drove the Moderate classification for Alfalfa Extract

A score of 4.0 places this ingredient in the Moderate band. Thresholds: Low 0–3.0 · Moderate 3.0–5.5 · High 5.5–7.5 · Critical 7.5–10.

0 approved references.

Limited — mostly case reports or animal studies (Level 4–5).

Neutral or mixed — benefit and risk signals roughly balanced.

No active signals — S component is at neutral baseline (0.5), contributing no extra risk weight.

No major regulatory restrictions or advisories recorded across monitored jurisdictions (FDA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, and others).

How are the Low / Moderate / High / Critical thresholds defined?

The four risk levels are fixed score bands. A score is assigned to exactly one level based on where it falls:

Level	Score	Meaning
LOW	0.0 – 2.9	Sparse or predominantly beneficial evidence. No active safety alerts.
MODERATE	3.0 – 5.4	Mixed signals — some risk alongside benefit. Caution at high doses or in sensitive groups.
HIGH	5.5 – 7.4	Multiple studies or regulatory alerts documenting adverse effects. Professional oversight recommended.
CRITICAL	7.5 – 10	Regulatory restrictions in one or more major jurisdictions. Serious documented harm. Avoid without specialist supervision.

Thresholds are fixed constants (GIRI_Score_Utils::LEVEL_THRESHOLDS). They do not change per ingredient and are never subject to editorial adjustment.

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Alfalfa Extract

Safety Profile

Known Safety Concerns

Contraindications

Interactions

Evidence and Scientific Findings

Ingredient Overview

Biological and Chemical Classification

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Evidence of Effectiveness

Pharmacokinetics

Recommended Dosage

SETI — Scientific Evidence Transparency Index

Executive Summary — Ingredient Assessment

Evidence Summary

Evidence Policy

Evidence Distribution

Score Transparency

Risk Level Classification

What drove the Moderate classification for Alfalfa Extract

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