The stamen and stigma of some species of wild saffron (Crocus sp.) as a rich source of antioxidants

Saffron (Crocus sp.), is widely used in the food industry and is used as a flavoring and natural coloring agent. A comparative evaluation of the antioxidant activity in the stamen, as well as the effective and medicinal material of crocin in stigma in the agronomic species of saffron (C. sativus) in comparison with the native wild species of C. speciosus and C. caspius collected from Guilan province, were the main objectives of this study. The results of this study showed that the medicinal material of crocin in the stigma of C. speciosus and C. caspius with a significant difference was more than C. sativus, but the amount of crocin in the stamen of C. sativus with a significant difference was more than C. speciosus and C. caspius. The results of the present study also showed that the amount of total phenol and also the amount of the antioxidant activity (DPPH) in the stamen of C. sativus was significantly higher than the two species of C. speciosus and C. caspius, but the amount of flavonol in C. speciosus and C. caspius was significantly higher than C. sativus. Due to the fact that until now, the saffron stamen was considered as unusable part of saffron, according to the results of this study, the high level of antioxidant activity as well as the medicinal composition of crocin in the stamen of saffron, in addition to stigma, in the agronomic and wild species of saffron, this part of saffron has significant potential as a rich source of antioxidants, enriching peoplechr food baskets and in a variety of pharmaceutical and food programs.