Chemical analysis of saffron by HPLC based crocetin estimation

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 2020-03, Vol.181, p.113094, Article 113094
• Main Authors: Reddy, Chilakala Nagarjuna, Bharate, Sandip B., Vishwakarma, Ram A., Bharate, Sonali S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline hydrolysis; Carotenoids - isolation & purification; Carotenoids - standards; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Coloring Agents - isolation & purification; Coloring Agents - standards; Crocetin; Crocins; Crocus - chemistry; Food Industry - standards; HPLC; Large scale preparation; Quality Control; Saffron
• ISSN: 0731-7085; 1873-264X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113094

[Display omitted] •A crocetin-based HPLC method to evaluate the total-crocin content of saffron.•Method was employed for analysis of saffron quality.•Approach comprises alkali-mediated in-situ conversion of crocins to crocetin.•Unique and efficient protocol for preparation of crocetin directly from saffron.•Simple and efficient way to check the quality of saffron-containing products. Saffron is one of the most expensive and valuable spice having tremendous commercial value in food industry and thus its quality check is of utmost importance. Crocins are unique group of extremely hydrophilic apocarotenoids which are main components of saffron. Crocetin is an aglycone of crocins which do occur naturally in saffron, and is produced in biological system as a bioactive metabolite via hydrolytic cleavage of crocins. Crocins are unstable and tend to undergo isomerisation/ inter-conversions, and therefore their quantitative estimation is difficult. Herein, we have established for the first time, a crocetin-based HPLC method to evaluate the total crocin content of saffron, and thereby analyze the quality of saffron. The present approach comprises alkali-mediated conversion of crocins to crocetin in raw material followed by quantitative estimation of in-situ formed crocetin by HPLC analysis. The unique and efficient protocol for preparation of high purity analytical grade 'crocetin' directly from saffron has also been established. It is simple and efficient way to check the quality of saffron/ saffron-containing products.