Page 112 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)

Microscopic Characters:

The Epidermal cells of stigma are elongated, frequently
with a short, central papilla; the upper border has finger-shaped
papillae.

Pollen grains are single, globular, about 100 µm wide, with a
finely pitted
exine.

Test for Identity :
1- Carefully crush pieces of the drug to coarse particles and
moisten with 0.2 ml of phosphomolybdic acid solution. The
particles turn blue within 1-2 min or they have a blue areole
around them.
2- Place a little saffron in a few drops of sulphuric acid, an
immediate blue colour gradually changing to violet and finally
to deep win red is produced.
Constituent:
- 0.1% of volatile oil containing terpenes, alcohols and esters.
- Carotenoid pigments. The fresh plant contains
Protocrocinwhich is decomposed on drying into one molecule of
crocin (a coloured glycoside) and two molecules of picrocrocin
(a colourless bitter glycoside) which on

-137-