Quality control of saffron (Crocus sativus L.): development of SCAR markers for the detection of plant adulterants used as bulking agents.

A method based on sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCARs) was developed from random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPDs) specific for Arnica montana L., Bixa orellana L., Calendula officinalis L., Carthamus tinctorius L., Crocus vernus L. (Hill), Curcuma longa L., and Hemerocallis sp. to detect these common bulking agents in commercial saffron (Crocus sativus). The method enabled the unequivocal detection of low amounts (up to 1%) of each adulterant, allowing the preemptive rejection of suspect samples. Its enforcement limits the number of samples to be subjected to further evaluation with pharmacognostic or phytochemical analyses, especially when multiple batches have to be evaluated in a short time. The dimension of the amplicons is suitable for the analysis of degraded DNA obtained from dried, stored, processed, and finely ground commercial material. Proper SCAR markers may represent a fast, sensitive, reliable, and low-cost screening method for the authentication of dried commercial saffron material.

[1]  A. Bianchi,et al.  Quality control of commercial Mediterranean oregano: Development of SCAR markers for the detection of the adulterants Cistus incanus L., Rubus caesius L. and Rhus coriaria L. , 2010 .

[2]  J. Iborra,et al.  A non-destructive method to determine the safranal content of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. , 2000, Journal of biochemical and biophysical methods.

[3]  Monica Scordino,et al.  HPLC/PDA/ESI-MS Evaluation of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Adulteration , 2011, Natural product communications.

[4]  A. Bianchi,et al.  Detecting Satureja montana L. and Origanum majorana L. by means of SCAR–PCR in commercial samples of Mediterranean oregano , 2011 .

[5]  K. Dhanya,et al.  Sequence characterized amplified region markers: A reliable tool for adulterant detection in turmeric powder , 2011 .

[6]  Alejandro Hernández,et al.  Efficiency of DNA typing methods for detection of smoked paprika "pimenton de la vera" adulteration used in the elaboration of dry-cured Iberian pork sausages. , 2010, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[7]  Amaya Zalacain,et al.  Rapid determination of crocetin esters and picrocrocin from saffron spice (Crocus sativus L.) using UV-visible spectrophotometry for quality control. , 2008, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[8]  P. Winterhalter,et al.  SAFFRON—RENEWED INTEREST IN AN ANCIENT SPICE , 2000 .

[9]  K. Dhanya,et al.  Molecular marker based adulteration detection in traded food and agricultural commodities of plant origin with special reference to spices. , 2010 .

[10]  Fikart I. Abdullaev.  Cancer Chemopreventive and Tumoricidal Properties of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) , 2002, Experimental biology and medicine.

[11]  J. Tibbits,et al.  A rapid method for tissue collection and high-throughput isolation of genomic DNA from mature trees , 2006, Plant Molecular Biology Reporter.

[12]  J. Nienhuis,et al.  Impact of scoring error and reproducibility RAPD data on RAPD based estimates of genetic distance , 1995, Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

[13]  X. Q. Ma,et al.  Authentic Identification of Stigma Croci (Stigma of Crocus sativus) from its Adulterants by Molecular Genetic Analysis , 2001, Planta medica.

[14]  Q. Xie,et al.  Use of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis for Economically Important Food Crops , 2007 .

[15]  Á. Ríos,et al.  Use of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis for the quality control of commercial saffron samples. , 2005, Journal of chromatography. A.

[16]  P. Tarantilis,et al.  UV-Vis, FT-Raman, and 1H NMR Spectroscopies of cis-trans Carotenoids from Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) , 1998 .

[17]  Mohammad Mahdavi,et al.  EVALUATION OF ISO METHOD IN SAFFRON QUALIFICATION , 2006 .

[18]  F. Gresta,et al.  Saffron, an alternative crop for sustainable agricultural systems. A review , 2011, Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

[19]  Amaya Zalacain,et al.  Near-infrared spectroscopy in saffron quality control: determination of chemical composition and geographical origin. , 2005, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[20]  G. Alonso,et al.  Method to determine the authenticity of aroma of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). , 1998, Journal of food protection.

[21]  Charles L. Cantrell,et al.  Quantification of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) metabolites crocins, picrocrocin and safranal for quality determination of the spice grown under different environmental Moroccan conditions , 2009 .

[22]  M. Recio,et al.  An Update Review of Saffron and its Active Constituents , 1996 .

[23]  Hasan Vurdu,et al.  The World Saffron and Crocus collection: strategies for establishment, management, characterisation and utilisation , 2010, Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution.

[24]  J. Iborra,et al.  A quantitative high-performance liquid chromatographic method to analyse commercial saffron (Crocus sativus L.) products. , 1999 .

[25]  Rogelio Pereda-Miranda,et al.  HPLC quantification of major active components from 11 different saffron (Crocus sativus L.) sources , 2007 .

[26]  P. Caputo,et al.  RAPD Analysis in Crocus sativus L. Accessions and Related Crocus Species , 2004, Biologia Plantarum.

[27]  Amaya Zalacain,et al.  Quantification of crocetin esters in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) using Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics. , 2010, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[28]  S. Hagh-Nazari,et al.  SAFFRON AND VARIOUS FRAUD MANNERS IN ITS PRODUCTION AND TRADES , 2007 .

[29]  R. Bruni,et al.  RAPD-based method for the quality control of Mediterranean oregano and its contribution to pharmacognostic techniques. , 2009, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.