Dried stigmas & Dried stigmas & tops of the styles oftops of the styles of Crocus sativus Crocus sativus IridaceaeIridaceae

Cultivation Cultivation

Ground is prepared by ploughing & manuring Ground is prepared by ploughing & manuring during during April, May & June April, May & June Corms planted in Corms planted in July – AugJuly – Aug , 20cm apart , 20cm apart 4 or 5 rows are planted then a deep wide 4 or 5 rows are planted then a deep wide furrow is left & again another wide ridges furrow is left & again another wide ridges Some kind of corn is grown in the wide left Some kind of corn is grown in the wide left over furrows which remins as a path over furrows which remins as a path 11stst flowering takes place in flowering takes place in Sept / OctSept / Oct of the of the following yr ( autumn of each year )following yr ( autumn of each year )Plants stand for Plants stand for 4 yrs4 yrs after which they are after which they are dug up in dug up in May / JuneMay / June

Collection Collection

Done in Done in early morningearly morning in fine weather in fine weather

By By women & childrenwomen & children in in Sept / NovSept / Nov

Flowers put in basket & conveyed to Flowers put in basket & conveyed to picking picking houseshouses where stigmas collected & corollas where stigmas collected & corollas rejected rejected

Stigmas placed in sieve heated by charcoal Stigmas placed in sieve heated by charcoal stoves at 50cm ht for 30 – 40min stoves at 50cm ht for 30 – 40min

They were turned every 20min They were turned every 20min

Cooled for 30 – 45min & stored in a dark place Cooled for 30 – 45min & stored in a dark place

Description Description

Stigmas are Stigmas are long tube / funnellong tube / funnel shaped shaped Broad at apex & narrowed at base & joins Broad at apex & narrowed at base & joins style style Occurs as single or attached in threes to a Occurs as single or attached in threes to a short portion style short portion style It forms loose masses of It forms loose masses of reddish brown reddish brown colour colour Sweetish aromaticSweetish aromatic odour odour BitterBitter taste taste When fresh When fresh unctuous to touchunctuous to touchWhen chewed it When chewed it colors saliva yellow colors saliva yellow

Constituents Constituents

Traces of volatile oilTraces of volatile oil

Bitter principle Bitter principle (picrocrosin)(picrocrosin)

Red coloring matter Red coloring matter (poly chorite / crocin)(poly chorite / crocin)

CarotenoidCarotenoid pigments pigments

Proto crocin present in fresh form upon dryingProto crocin present in fresh form upon drying

1 Crocin1 Crocin 2 Picrocrocin2 Picrocrocin

Gentiobiose + crocetinGentiobiose + crocetin Glucose + saffranalGlucose + saffranal

UsesUses

Coloring agentColoring agent

StimulantStimulant

AntispasmodicAntispasmodic

EmmenagogueEmmenagogue

Tests Tests Under microscope stigmas are either Under microscope stigmas are either separate or united in 3 to the apex of separate or united in 3 to the apex of yellowish styleyellowish style

Crocin + cold dil.KOHCrocin + cold dil.KOH

∞∞ and and ββ- - crocetin crocetin reddish crystals reddish crystals upon acidification upon acidification

∞∞-- crocetin crocetin bluish red crystals bluish red crystals

Crocin + conc.HCrocin + conc.H22SoSo44 blue color blue color