Abstract
An NMR analytical protocol is proposed to characterize saffron samples of different geographical origin (Greece, Spain, Hungary, Turkey and Italy). A microwave-assisted extraction procedure was developed to obtain a comparable recovery of metabolites with respect to the ISO specifications, reducing the solvent volume and the extraction time needed. Metabolite profiles of geographically different saffron extracts were compared showing significant differences in the content of some metabolites.
Highlights
Saffron is a very expensive spice cultivated in few countries (Iran, India, Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco), and it is mainly used as a food additive and for coloring purposes
To the best of our knowledge, automatic microwave-assisted extraction has never been applied to Crocus sativus L. stigmas and its well-known advantages make it an interesting method to achieve an exhaustive extract of this plant [16]
Picrocrocin and crocins are glycosides and, dissolve excellently in water, whereas aromatic compounds and lipids are immiscible in water, but soluble in organic solvents
Summary
Saffron is a very expensive spice cultivated in few countries (Iran, India, Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco), and it is mainly used as a food additive and for coloring purposes. To the best of our knowledge, automatic microwave-assisted extraction has never been applied to Crocus sativus L. stigmas and its well-known advantages (reduced solvent volume and extraction time, pressurized and sealed vials to reduce loss of volatile components, strict control of multiple parameters, such as temperature, pressure and irradiation power) make it an interesting method to achieve an exhaustive extract of this plant [16] This technique provides, in general, a better isolation of secondary metabolites, due to the complete swelling of the subcellular structures under microwave irradiation, which leads to a deeper penetration of the solvent and an easier release of intracellular metabolites. A comparison of the 1H metabolic profiling of saffron samples of different geographical origin was carried out
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