Page 110 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)
P. 110
Safflower
(American saffron)
Safflower is the dried tubular florets of Carthamus
tinctorius, family Asteraceae.
Description:
The tubular florets are orange to brownish-red.
Corolla: tubular with 5 linear lobes.
Androecium : 5 yellow stamens with syngenesious anthers.
Gynaecium: oblong with long style and bifid stigma.
Constituents:
Safflower contains the chalcone C- glucosides:
- Carthamin or carthamic acid: red coloured
- Safflower Yellow: soluble in water
Uses:
- Colouring substance as substitute for saffron.
- It is used for adulteration of saffron.
-135-
