Recovery of Crocins From Floral Tissue of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

Abstract

In this research, a novel source of phytopigment crocins from fully open mature flowers of cape jasmine (<i>Gardenia jasminoides</i>) is introduced. Methanol and deionized water were appropriate solvents for pigment recovery with maximum yields of at least 17% from the floral tissue. Pigment separation by thin layer chromatography also confirmed the presence of the carotenoids, which dissolved well in these high-strength polar solvents, in fruit, flower, and leaf materials. The spectral patterns of the extracts from ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance showed maximum absorption at ~420 nm and the chemical shift values were similar to those of crocetin aglycones (crocins) in the methanol extracts of a commercial source of yellow gardenia (fructus or fruit of <i>Gardenia florida</i>). Chemical compositions were then evaluated using aqueous-phase capillary electrophoresis of the methanol extracts. The methanolic extracts of the flowers and fruit had 11 principal ingredients in common. Among these, crocetin and crocin 2 belong to the crocin group and are known to be the major components of commercial yellow <i>Gardenia</i>. This research not only demonstrates a sustainable means of raw material utilization for natural product recovery, but also encourages a movement toward an edible landscape for the community.