Saffron, a well known spices attract the people
due to its high medicinal as well as confectionary properties. The saffron use
had been reported since Vedic periods. In ancient days, it was used for gaining
the natural color of many sweets and condiments, applied as tilaka (red dot on the forehead).
Saffron is a small bulbous perennial, 15- 25 cm high, and cultivated by corms.
Therapeutically, it had been reported to use in the preparation of many Ayurveda,
Siddha and Unani formulations. It is a powerful antioxidant, relaxing mood,
treating depressive symptoms, reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS), aphrodisiac,
reduce appetite, and aid to weight loss and also has anti-cancerous properties.
The stigmas are also reported to use to making medicine for
asthma, cough, whooping cough (pertussis), and to loosen phlegm (as an
expectorant). Saffron is also good for colds and
coughs, stomach issues, uterine bleeding, insomnia, flatulence and heart trouble;
it is also great for the skin.
It is rich in manganese, which regulates blood sugar and in turn gives you
glowing skin.
Saffron (Kumkuma
or Keshar) is the most expensive spice in the world due to its labor-intensive
harvesting method, making the production costly. Saffron is harvested by hand
from the flower of Crocus sativus (Family - Iridaceae) and commonly known
as the “saffron crocus.” The term “saffron” applies to the flower's thread-like
structures, or stigma.
The
greater demand of saffron is attracting high profitable business at the same
time chances of adulteration is more? One thing should be noted that once the
saffron gets adulterated or substituted, it is very difficult to segregate from
good materials and thus the efficacy of drugs cannot be determined. It is
clearly mentioned in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India that the saffron must
be free from safflower (Carthamus
tinctorius) and florets of marigold (Tagetes erecta). When we start identification
of saffron as per the specification mentioned in aforesaid Pharmacopeias, we will often try to check the adulteration in the form of
safflower and marigold florets. This makes alertness to those people who try to
adulterate the original saffron and therefore, the adulteration catches other
path and start mixing some other materials that are not able to catch easily due
to more similarity in morphology. This becomes more troublesome when both natural
and artificial saffron found mixed together in the same packet.
 |
| A. Original Saffron |
 |
| B. Artificial Saffron |
 |
| C. Original Saffron (Close view) |
 |
| D. Artificial Saffron (Close view) |
Following two main
observations may make it easy to identify the adulteration even on the spot of the arrival
of the material and if is found adulterated, may be sent back to the supplier for its
replacement without further delay so as to get good material in time in order
to avoid interruption in the productions of medicines.
1. The original saffron has dark red or reddish-brown
trifid stigma and cornucopia shaped. The margin of stigma is fimbricate (hair-like projection at the margin of stigma) whereas; the artificial stigma has
a sharp cutting edge and smooth margin. The color of stigma may slightly show
differences and remain in dark pink color when seen with a hand lens (Image A & C).
2. Under Microscope, thin-walled parenchyma cells found containing
coloring matter; at the upper end numerous cylindrical trichomes are seen. Some
of the pollen grains either adhering to stigma or occasionally germinated and
exhibiting pollen tubes. Whereas in artificial saffron stigma will not show
such characters except thin-walled parenchyma cells (Image B&D).
The
above identification is practically enough to decide the prime quality for authentication
whether the supplied material is real saffron. After that other tests may be
performed to access its potency and efficacy of the saffron.
