Analysis of Saffron (Crocus sativus L. Stigma) Components by LC–MS–MS

A liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric validated method was developed for the detection of chemicals attributing color, flavor, taste and medicinal properties to saffron (Crocus sativus L. stigma). Ultrasonic extractions of saffron stigmas were followed by LC procedure with Pinnacle II Cyano (5 μm 150 × 2.1 mm) column and acetonitrile: water (70:30, v/v) as mobile phase. Deprotonated ions formed by a turbo ion spray in negative MS mode were used to detect the analytes. MS–MS detection was by monitoring precursors (m/z) fragmentations; of 149 → 113 (safranal), 327 → 283 (crocetin), 329 → 167 (picrocrocin), 355 → 327 (dimethyl crocetin), 489 → 327 (crocin E), 535 → 489 (carotenes), 651 → 327 (crocin C), 813 → 652 (crocin B), 975 → 651 (crocin A) and 1,137 → 813 (crocin F). The method was validated for linearity, precision, repeatability and specificity.