COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FROM CORMS OF Crocus sativus AND С vernus

摘要

Crocus is a genus of cormous plants in the Iridaceae that grow naturally in southern Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and Asia Minor [1]. Crocus sativus L. is the source of saffron. The stigma is rich in carotenoids, such as crocin, and many carotenoid-derived components generated via cleavage, such as safranal, occur among the volatile oils (VO) [2-5]. Recent studies have shown that saffron performs many bioactivities, such as preventing PC-12 cell death, and has cancer chemopreventive and tumoricidal properties [6,7]. The majority of Crocus species are grown for ornamental purposes only, and few studies of these species have investigated their chemical components [8]. One of the most well-known species. Crocus vernus (L.) Hill, which is commonly known as Dutch saffron or spring crocus, is an attractive spring-flowering species. Given optimum conditions, plants readily undergo vegetative reproduction by corm multiplication [9]. Although Crocus species are popular ornamentals, no analysis of the chemical components from any parts of the plant of most species has been reported.