Effects of γ-Irradiation on Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Petal

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) petal is the main by-product of saffron processing, which is produced in large amounts annually. The objectives of this study were to study the antioxidant and radical-scavenging activity of saffron petal extracts. Saffron petal extract was γ-irradiated to different doses (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 kGy). The antioxidant activity of irradiated and nonirradiated saffron petal extract was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical method. The total antioxidant activity of nonirradiated (0 kGy) and irradiated (10, 20, 30 and 40 kGy) samples of saffron petal was 20, 66, 61, 53, and 54%, respectively. The IR spectra of γ-irradiated and nonirradiated saffron petals revealewd an increase in the content of phenolic and flavonoid components of saffron petals with increasing dose up to 30 kGy. Thus, γ-irradiation allows enhancement of the antioxidant activity and content of phenolic and flavonoid components in saffron petals, with 20 kGy being an optimum dose.