Extraction of Saffron Crocin as a Natural Pharmaceutical Source with Crystallization Method

 Abstract—separation of crocin as anti-cancer and antioxidant ingredient would be useful commercially and clinically. In this research with crystallization method, saffron Crocin was extracted. Ethanol 80% and acetone was chosen as the best extraction solvent. Crystallization and purification process was performed in two steps in zero and -5c° degree. In first step, saffron Crocin was extracted with ethanol and after keeping in -5c° for 23 days obtained Crystals were separated. Obtained Crocin crystals from the first step had low purity and the pure crystals were yielded during the second crystallization. Extraction and purity of Crocin. Crystals were studied by UV-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform spectrometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatogram analysis compared to Crocin Sigma-Aldrich. Results shows that the extraction intensity and purity of the obtained Crocins were significantly higher (28.32 times). Measurement of color showed the color strength was more than sigma-Aldrich about 7.5 time. The results of this research showed that purchased Crocin according to the chromatograms is not pure and some unknown impurity were seen. Besides, Chromatogram spectra's shows that obtained Crocin crystals were in higher purity than purchased one. This information illustrated that this crocin because of high purity can be used as a reliable and valid standard.