P53: STANDARDIZATION OF SAMPLE PREPARATION CONDITIONS FOR CROCETIN ISOLATION FROM SAFFRON AIDED BY RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

摘要

The present study aimed at the standardization of sample preparation conditions for the quantitative isolation of crocetin (CRT) from saffron. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for the optimization of the first step of the process, i.e. the preparation of a polar saffron extract rich in crocetin sugar esters that represents the most expensive step of the process due to the high price of the starting material.