title: Quantitation of Crocins and picrocrocin in saffron by HPLC: application to quality control and phytochemical differentiation from other crocus taxa.
abstract: A chromatographic method was developed and fully validated for the determination of the major saffron constituents, i.e., picrocrocin and five major crocins. Dried samples (styles of Crocus sativus and other Crocus taxa) were extracted with MeOH : water (1 : 1, v/v), and chromatographic separation of the analytes was achieved by reversed-phase chromatography using a gradient elution. Full validation was performed using spiked samples with analytes, which were isolated, purified, and characterized by MS due to a lack of commercial standards. The method showed a good fit (r2 > 0.999) for all analytes with limit of quantitation values in the range of 1-15 µg/mL, and demonstrated adequate intra- and inter-precision (< 15 % RSD) and accuracy (< 7 % RE). The method was applied to the analysis of various commercial saffron samples and of indigenous Crocus taxa and allowed for the first time the absolute quantitation of several Crocus components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos Stavros
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Koulakiotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, Rio, Greece.
authors.forename: Gregoris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iatrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Rio, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotini N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Lamari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsarbopoulos
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis*; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D013045:Species Specificity; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D005960:Glucosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin; C087962:picrocrocin