Characterization of volatile components of Iranian saffron using factorial-based response surface modeling of ultrasonic extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

The volatile components of Iranian saffron were extracted using ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) technique and then were separated and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Variables affecting the extraction procedure were screened by using a 2(5-1) fractional factorial design and among them; sample amount, solvent volume, solvent ratio and extraction time were optimized by applying a rotatable central composite design (CCD). The optimum values of factors were: 2.38g sample, 29.04mL solvent, 69.23% MeOH solvent ratio and 71.8min for the extraction time. Forty constituents were identified for Iranian saffron by GC-MS representing 90% of the total peak area. The major components were 2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehyde, namely safranal (26.29%), bicyclo[3,2,0]hept-2-ene-,4-ethoxy-,endo (5.69%), linoleic acid (4.77%), 4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, namely HTCC (4.44%), and nonadecanol (3.32%). Some new compounds were identified for the first time in saffron. In addition, the results of this study were compared with those of Greek saffron.