BACKGROUND: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable spices and nowadays its main use is as a foodstuff. Numerous papers have been published on saffron aroma and its volatile content, but nothing has beenwritten about the aroma quality of samples available on the market to consumers. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare 418 commercial samples of saffron belonging to different ISO categories. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) with an organic solvent and dynamic headspace desorption (DHD) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to screen for saffron volatile composition. RESULTS: For both methods the saffron aromatic profile was characterised by spicy aromatic notes due to safranal, the most abundant volatile component, by a floral contribution attributable to isophorone and 2,2,6-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexanedione, together with citrus and spicy notes from 4-ketoisophorone and 2-hydroxy-4,4,6-trimethyl-2,5- cyclohexadien-1-one respectively. CONCLUSION: USAE allowed the detection of a greater number of compounds, whereas DHD was faster and a smaller amount of saffron was required. Compared with the USAE method, the DHD method defined the samples as having a spicier and more floral aromatic contribution, thus corroborating that the extraction method considerably changes the aromatic fingerprint of saffron samples.
Maggi, L., Carmona, M., Del Campo, C. P., Kanakis, C. D., Anastasaki, E., Tarantilis, P. A., Polissiou, M. G., Alonso, G. L., Worldwide market screening of saffron volatile composition, <<JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE>>, 2009; 89 (11): 1950-1954. [doi:10.1002/jsfa.3679] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/28897]
Worldwide market screening of saffron volatile composition
Maggi, Luana;
2009
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable spices and nowadays its main use is as a foodstuff. Numerous papers have been published on saffron aroma and its volatile content, but nothing has beenwritten about the aroma quality of samples available on the market to consumers. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare 418 commercial samples of saffron belonging to different ISO categories. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) with an organic solvent and dynamic headspace desorption (DHD) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to screen for saffron volatile composition. RESULTS: For both methods the saffron aromatic profile was characterised by spicy aromatic notes due to safranal, the most abundant volatile component, by a floral contribution attributable to isophorone and 2,2,6-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexanedione, together with citrus and spicy notes from 4-ketoisophorone and 2-hydroxy-4,4,6-trimethyl-2,5- cyclohexadien-1-one respectively. CONCLUSION: USAE allowed the detection of a greater number of compounds, whereas DHD was faster and a smaller amount of saffron was required. Compared with the USAE method, the DHD method defined the samples as having a spicier and more floral aromatic contribution, thus corroborating that the extraction method considerably changes the aromatic fingerprint of saffron samples.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.