Non-targeted metabolomics and chemometrics for saffron (Crocus sativus L.) authentication and adulteration detection in relation to its anticholinesterase activity

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), is a spice of vulnerable medical importance. It is often adulterated to lower its quality and efficacy. The present study sought to detect the level of adulteration in five traded saffron collected from different localities using a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-MS/MS) technique. In total, 62 metabolites were identified in the five extracts namely from monoterpene aldehydes, flavonoid derivatives, apocarotenoids and carotenoids classes as well as chemical markers of adulteration. One common adulterant; Gardenia jasminoides Ellis was detected through the simultaneous determination of its specific constituents including geniposide, shanzhiside and major jasminosides. Also, one synthetic dye; auramine-O was detected in one marketed saffron product. The anticholinesterase activity of the five marketed saffron was also evaluated. Furthermore, saffron samples that contain high crocin levels possessed a promising anticholinesterase activity. It was detected for the first time that auramine-O dye is sometimes used as a potential adulterant of saffron. In spite of the grand researches on saffron, it still lacks an accurate evaluation of the commercial saffron products. The results of our study showed that high adulteration rate of trade saffron not only reduces saffron efficacy as a herbal remedy but may also simultaneously represent a health risk.

Keywords

• Saffron
• Crocins
• LC-MS
• Metabolomics
• Authenticity
• Adulteration