Download PDF
Planta Med 1994; 60(5): 438-440
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959527
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Post-Harvest Degradation of Carotenoid Glucose Esters in Saffron

S. Morimoto1 , Y. Umezaki1 , Y. Shoyama1 , H. Saito2 , K. Nishi3 , N. Irino4
  • 1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812, Japan
  • 2Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan
  • 3Tsukuba Medicinal Plant Research Station, National Institute of Hygienic Sciences, 1 Hachimandai, Yatabe-machi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan
  • 4Nippon Mektron Co. Ltd, 831-2 Kamisoda, Isohara-machi, Kitaibaraki-shi, Ibaraki 319-15, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1993

1993

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

It has been found that an indoor cultivation system of Crocus sativus L. is more favorable with regard to the quality of saffron, as compared to the usual cultivation in an open field. Carotenoid glucose esters increase from the period before blooming and reach the maximum in the full blooming period, and are sensitive for the presence of oxygen, light irradiation, and β-glucosidase. Moreover, it is evident that storage of saffron at -20°C promotes the constant supply of saffron with a homogeneous pharmacological activity.

Key words

Saffron - crocetin glucose esters - seasonal variation - post-harvest degradation - Crocus sativus L. - Iridaceae