Efficient method for the preparation of value added saffron pigment and flavour concentrate

• Main Authors: QAZI GHULAM NABI, THAPPA RAJINDER KUMAR, AGNIHOTRI VIJAI KANT, AGARWAL SHRI GOPAL, SURI OM PRAKASH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES

The present invention relates to an efficient method for the extraction of high stability, superior quality, value added, standardized, ready-to-use saffron pigments and flavour concentrate, said process comprising steps of mixing saffron with one food-grade solvent or a combination of more than one food graded-solvents, macerating and agitating the mixture with continuance protection from light condition, centrifuging the macerated mixture to remove undesirable fibrous plant material, cooling the centrifuge immediately, lyophilizing the cooled centrifuge under reduced pressure to obtain crude material, isolating the concentrate by column chromatography, and obtaining brilliant orange color shining saffron pigments and flavour concentrate with recovery of about 95%, and use of the saffron pigments and flavour concentrate of range between 0.05 to 3% in food, pharmaceutical, and allied industries for flavour, and color.