title: Use of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis for the quality control of commercial saffron samples.
abstract: A non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) method for quantifying the seven crocin metabolites that are the major biologically active ingredients of saffron was developed. Separation is done by using a fused silica capillary filled with a 12.5 mM H3BO3/37.5 mM sodium tetraborate methanolic solution as background electrolyte. The results obtained were compared with the total index "safranal value", widely used as a quality measure of saffron products. The comparison revealed that the proposed NACE method provides useful information not obtained in the safranal value. Infact, samples with a similar safranal value can contain crocin metabolites in different concentrations and relative proportions. This new method is very useful for quality control in commercial saffron samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Marie Curie, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zougagh
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Simonet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015394:Molecular Structure; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin