IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL GLYCOSIDIC AROMA PRECURSORS IN SAFFRON (CROCUS-SATIVUS L)

The methanolic extract of saffron was separated with the aid of multil ayer coil countercurrent chromatography. After purification by HPLC, t he following seven novel carotenoid metabolites were identified on the basis of their spectral (UV, FTIR, MS, NMR, CD) data: -hydroxy-2,6,6- trimethylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde O-beta-D-gentiobiaside (1), -4-hyd roxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid O-beta-D-glucopyrano side (2), hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,4-trimethylcyclohexa 2,5-dieno ne 6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), (2Z)-3-methylpent-2-enedioic acid i oxocyclohexenyloxy)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosid-6-yl] ester(4), dimethyl-4 ,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), l)-4,4,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-2-one O-beta-D-glucopyra noside (6), and (1R)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-3-enol O-beta-D-glucopyra noside (7).