DETERMINATION OF SAFFRON (CROCUS-SATIVUS L) COMPONENTS IN CRUDE PLANT-EXTRACT USING HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY UV-VISIBLE PHOTODIODE-ARRAY DETECTION-MASS SPECTROMETRY

The determination of saffron components in crude plant extracts by hig h-performance liquid chromatography-UV-visible photodiode-array detect ion on-line with mass spectrometry is described. The method is shown t o be suitable for the determination of picrocrocin, the glycosidic pre cursor of safranal, safranal and flavonoids; it is the technique of ch oice for the analysis of crocetin glycosides (crocins) carrying one up to five glucoses and differentiation of their trans and cis isomers.