The effect of storing period of Crocus sativus L. Stigma on crocin content

Crocus sativus L. is one of the most important plants in Khorasan provience and exported to the whole world. It is used in food for color and flavour and also in medicine. In this study effects of storage condition of Crocus sativus L. for determining crocin were under investigation in Khorasan Provience. Samples were collected on November 2003. We kept samples for 20 months in three different conditions as light, darkness and refrigerator on zero degree. On November 2005 samples were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) which crocin percentage content in light were 0.032%, dark 0.038% and refrigerator 0.028%. According to the results the best condition to kept stigmata is darkness.