Chemical composition and nutritional value of saffron's pollen (Crocus sativus L.)

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of saffron's pollen.

Design/methodology/approach

A 30 kg sample of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was collected at the end of November from a farm in a village in the suburb of Gonabad, in Khorasan Razavi, in Iran. Then the pollens were separated from the flowers and stored at −15°C in airtight containers until the analyze. The proximate composition of the pollen was determined by using standard methods of food analysis. The samples of ash were used for the subsequent determination of potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese by using atomic absorption.

Findings

Results showed the chemical composition as follows: moisture (12.50 percent), ash (9.5 percent), crude fiber (7.4 percent), crude fat (5.8 percent), crude protein (23.6 percent) and total carbohydrate (20 percent). Saffron's pollen is a good source of minerals such as potassium (57,460 ppm), magnesium (3,357.5 ppm), sodium (1,100 ppm), calcium (600 ppm), zinc (100.75 ppm), iron (194 ppm), copper (53.2 ppm) and manganese (48.5 ppm).

Originality/value

The composition and nutritional value of saffron's pollen had not been determined before.

Citation

Mohamadi Sani, A., Hemmati Kakhki, A. and Moradi, E. (2013), "Chemical composition and nutritional value of saffron's pollen (Crocus sativus L.)", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 43 No. 5, pp. 490-495. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-04-2012-0040