Floral bio-residues of Crocus sativus L. as a potential source of anthocyanins
Conference Paper
Overview
Overview
abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) flower is composed of six purple tepals, three yellow
stamens and a white phylliform style ending in a stigma with three threads. Saffron
is cultivated for its stigma, which corresponds to the most valued spice worldwide
[1]. The production of a single kg of this spice originates about 63 kg of floral bioresidues
without any known utilization. These bio-residues have been reported as
having high phenolic content with bioactive properties [2] and, therefore, the study
of their anthocyanin composition is worthwhile. Accordingly, saffron petals were
extracted with acidified (trifluoracetic acid) methanol and further purified with Cl8
SepPak® Vac 3 cc cartridges (Phenomenex), followed by filtration (0.22-f!m disposable
LC filter disk) . Samples were analyzed in a Hewlett-Packard 1100 HPLC (Agilent
Technologies) with a quaternary pump and a diode array detector (DAD) coupled to
an HP Chem Station data-processing. Double detection was carried out by DAD, using
520 nm as the preferred wavelength, and MS detection, performed in an API 3200
Qtrap (Applied Biosystems) equipped with an ESI source and a triple quadrupole-ion
trap mass analyzer (Analyst 5.1 software). The anthocyanin profiles presented three
main peaks identified as glycosylated derivatives of delphinidin and petunidin di-
0-glucosides, and cyanidin 0-rutinoside, based on their chromatographic, UV and
mass spectral characteristics. As far as we know the presence of this later is reported
for the first time in Crocus spp. Delphinidin di-0-glucoside (Fig. lA) was the major
anthocyanin in saffron petals. According to the detected amounts, floral bio-residues
of C. sativus might be considered as a valuable natural source of anthocyanins with
potential industrial applications.
