Picrocrocin
Encyclopedia
Picrocrocin is a monoterpene
glycoside
precursor of safranal
. It is found in the spice saffron
, which comes from the crocus
flower. Picrocrocin has a bitter taste and is the chemical most responsible for the taste of saffron.
During the drying process picrocrocin liberates the aglycone
(HTCC, C10H16O2) due to the action of the enzyme
glucosidase. The aglycone is then transformed to safranal by dehydration
. Picrocrocin is a degradation product of the carotenoid
zeaxanthin
.
Monoterpene
Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear or contain rings...
glycoside
Glycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to a non-carbohydrate moiety, usually a small organic molecule. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. These can be activated by enzyme...
precursor of safranal
Safranal
Safranal is an organic compound isolated from saffron, the spice consisting of the stigmas of crocus flowers . It is the constituent primarily responsible for the aroma of saffron....
. It is found in the spice saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
, which comes from the crocus
Crocus
Crocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
flower. Picrocrocin has a bitter taste and is the chemical most responsible for the taste of saffron.
During the drying process picrocrocin liberates the aglycone
Aglycone
An aglycone is the non-sugar compound remaining after replacement of the glycosyl group from a glycoside by a hydrogen atom. The spelling aglycon is sometimes encountered .Classes of phytochemicals found in the aglycone and glycosides forms :...
(HTCC, C10H16O2) due to the action of the enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
glucosidase. The aglycone is then transformed to safranal by dehydration
Dehydration reaction
In chemistry and the biological sciences, a dehydration reaction is usually defined as a chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecule. Dehydration reactions are a subset of elimination reactions...
. Picrocrocin is a degradation product of the carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
zeaxanthin
Zeaxanthin
Zeaxanthin is one of the most common carotenoid alcohols found in nature. It is important in the xanthophyll cycle. Synthesized in plants & some micro-organisms, it is the pigment that gives paprika , corn, saffron, and many other plants & microbes their characteristic color.The name is derived...
.