Chemical Analysis of Saffron by HPLC based Crocetin Estimation

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2020Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical AnalysisAuthor(s): Chilakala Nagarjuna Reddy, Sandip B. Bharate, Ram A. Vishwakarma, Sonali S. BharateAbstractSaffron 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.Graphical Abstract
Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research