Processing, food industry and biochemistry
Javad Feizy; Moslem Jahani; Elaheh Moradi; Sima Ahmadi
Abstract
One of the new management methods to reduce costs and also environmental pollution is the use of agricultural waste. Considering the importance of metal compounds in the consumer’s health and their decisive role in proposing suitable cultivation areas and developing food applications of saffron ...
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One of the new management methods to reduce costs and also environmental pollution is the use of agricultural waste. Considering the importance of metal compounds in the consumer’s health and their decisive role in proposing suitable cultivation areas and developing food applications of saffron by-products in Iran, it is necessary to measure micronutrients and useful nutritional metal elements and heavy metal residues. Iran is the largest producer and exporter of saffron in the world with an annual production of 330 tons and an export of 280 tons. In this study, minerals of different components of saffron flowers (petals, stamens and styles) collected from eleven farms (in Khorasan Razavi and Qazvin provinces) were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed that in the stamen, the highest amount of micronutrients was related to magnesium (3031.9031), sodium (366.29), iron (236.57), copper (122.01), manganese (109.04) and zinc (91.17) mg/kg, respectively. Also, calcium and potassium quantities were 2.30 and 3.51 g/100g, respectively. In the style samples, the highest amount of micronutrients was related to magnesium (2365.78), sodium (394.53), iron (238.11), manganese (113.13), zinc (66.83) and copper 49.39 mg/kg, respectively. In the style samples, calcium (4.30) and potassium (2.15) were 4.30 and 2.15 g/100g, respectively. In the case of petals, like style, the highest levels of micronutrients were related to magnesium (1805/80), sodium (539.25), iron (292.63), manganese (81.98), zinc (56.76) and copper 16.17) mg/kg, respectively. Also, the amount of calcium and potassium were 3.45 and 1.59 g/100g, respectively. Due to the results and richness of these by-products of micronutrients, they can be used in various food industries, including enrichment and compensation of mineral deficiency of various processed and canned foods.
Other subject about saffron
Seyed Mohsen Mousavi; Maryam Khoshkam; Javad Feizi
Abstract
Saffron is a plant from Crocus Sativus species which is one of the most valuable indigenous herbs in Iran and is known as the most expensive spice and red gold. Saffron stigma consists of three major constituents including crocin (water soluble caretenoid pigments), picocrocin (bitter glycoside tasting) ...
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Saffron is a plant from Crocus Sativus species which is one of the most valuable indigenous herbs in Iran and is known as the most expensive spice and red gold. Saffron stigma consists of three major constituents including crocin (water soluble caretenoid pigments), picocrocin (bitter glycoside tasting) and safranal (the major volatile constituents in saffron aroma). The aim of this study was determination and comparison of existed metabolites in different types of saffron based on their geographical origins using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy techniques (GC-MS) and 13 volatile metabolites were determined and compared in different saffron samples from seven different regions of Khorasan Razavi province. These regions were Taybad, Neyshabour, torbate heydarieh, torbate jam, Zaveh and Kashmar.The results from statistical analysis (analysis of variance ANOVA followed by Duncan test) show that the level of metabolites were different in different regions and this can be the main reason of their discrimination against each other. These volatile metabolites were safranal, Megastigma-4,6(Z),8(Z)-triene, α-Guaiene, icosane and vitamine E. The results of this study show that in spite of similarities of constituents of these saffron samples, there are significant differences between the levels of metabolites in these regions although these region are close to each other. These differences show that these saffron can be applied in different purposes including pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and health industries depending on their origin. Saffron of Torbat-e-jam is proper for food industries since it is rich in aroma and Taibad is proper for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and health industries. The quality of Kashmar saffron is worse than other regions.