Abstract
The Aromatic and Medicinal Plants sector has undergone a remarkable evolution, especially during the last decade. The global market is moving more and more towards products of natural origin. Indeed, of the 4200-existing plant in Morocco, 800 are listed as aromatic and medicinal plants. Among these plants, saffron is a source of income for many areas of Morocco. Saffron, the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, is considered among the main terroir products of Morocco. Saffron has accompanied all civilizations, whether for its culinary role, for its quality of dye or its ancestral virtues rooted in folk medicine. This review highlights the main components of saffron, and the pharmacological activities that result from it and make this product a serious therapeutic hope. Then, a classification of uses of saffron was carried out according to its uses, traditional, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfumery without forgetting its use a spice incorporated in many dishes around the world.
Highlights
Saffron is one of the oldest spices, its history going back to the highest antiquity
Information on the saffron ancestors is not so unambiguous: Classical botanical studies based on the morphological aspect suggested that C. cartwrightianus could be the closest kin of C. sativus
The flowers of Crocus sativus begin to appear at the beginning of autumn, towards the end of September of purple color composed of six tepals, three are internal, whereas the three others are external, which meet at the long tube that arises from the upper part of the ovary (Figure 1C)
Summary
Saffron is one of the oldest spices, its history going back to the highest antiquity. From this primary zone, it would have spread to India, China and Middle East countries. It would have spread to India, China and Middle East countries Found from these latter countries, the Arabs spread saffron throughout the Mediterranean basin [3], such as in Morocco, where it was most likely introduced by the 9th century [4]. In addition to its economic importance, its importance is in the agronomic, environmental and social domain This crop mobilizes a large workforce—especially female—during the period of harvesting and pruning saffron.
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