Talanta Open (Dec 2020)
Appropriate use of analytical terminology – examples drawn from research on saffron
Abstract
The lack of scientific rigor in the analytical aspects of present research has forced the authors to select a subject — saffron as an example — to defend the correct use of analytical terms for the sake of avoiding the generalization of their misuse, and to give a glance of this interesting specie too. With this aim — and after an introduction on saffron spice and saffron plant, the lack of research on the commercialized product is afforded. The errors committed on analytical aspects related with sample pretreatment, sample preparation, separation, detection and data treatment are intended to be critically discussed; errors that are even bigger in the research on authentication, discrimination and frauds on the saffron spices — as happens in other research fields. The scant research on the omics aspects of saffron is highlighted, as well as on the valorization of saffron parts to which the appropriate attention — based on an in-depth knowledge of their major and minor components — has not been paid so far. Some studies on which future research should be focused are outlined as conclusions.
