Characterization of by-products of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) production.

The stigma, stamens and sepals of Crocus sativus L,. from two different geographical origins, were analyzed for their crocin and flavonol contents. Identification of crocins, safranal, picrocrocin, and flavonols was carried out by HPLC/DAD and HPLC/MS analysis. Both stigma samples, grown under natural conditions, exhibited high crocin contents (between 342 and 231 mg/g), while the stamens and sepals were rich in flavonols (between 6 and 10 mg/g). The stamens contain mainly kaempferol- 3-O-sophoroside, whereas the sepals contain mainly quercetin and methyl-quercetin glycosides. These data may be useful in order to find a possible exploitation of the by-products of saffron production, in which large quantities of C. sativus flowers are available