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ON SOME CONSTITUENTS OF SAFFRON. 
ON SOME CONSTITUENTS OF SAFFRON (CROCUS SAT1VUS). 
By M. Quadrat. 
The author prepared the coloring matter of saffron in the fol- 
lowing manner : — The saffron was completely exhausted with 
ether, and then extracted with boiling water ; the clear aqueous 
solution was precipitated with basic acetate of lead, the red pre- 
cipitate which forms washed with water, suspended in water, and 
decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, and the precipitate well 
washed. The coloring matter was then extracted from the pre- 
cipitate with boiling alcohol, the alcoholic solution evaporated to 
dryness in the water-bath, the residue treated with water, and the 
aqueous solution evaporated to dryness. The coloring substance 
thus obtained forms an aurora-red inodorous powder, which dis- 
solves in water with a yellow color ; the presence of a trace of 
alkali increases its solubility in a high degree. It dissolves readily 
in alcohol, but sparingly in ether. It is decomposed by strong 
mineral acids ; from an aqueous or aikaline solution it is separated 
by dilute mineral acids in brownish-red flakes, but in an altered 
state ; the organic acids, as tartaric, tannic and gallic acids, like- 
wise cause the separation of red flakes. Dilute solutions of the 
alkalies readily dissolve the pigment, and acquire a yellow color. 
Concentrated solutions, at the temperature of boiling water, de- 
compose the pigment ; and on distillation, an oily substance passes 
over, which has a different odor from oil of saffron, is lighter than 
water, but after some time sinks to the bottom as a brownish mass. 
On heating the pure coloring substance to 248° F.,it turns black- 
ish-brown ; at 302°, it becomes shining red ; at 356°, red-brown, 
with tumescence; and above 392°. it is entirely decomposed. 
This coloring matter contains no nitrogen. Dried at 212°, it 
furnished on analysis results leading to the formula C 20 H 13 O u , viz. 
Found. Calculated. 
Carbon, - 54'54 5434 
Hydrogen, - - - 5*96 5*88 
Oxygen, - - - 39*50 39'82 
A red compound with oxide of lead, formed by precipitating the 
aqueous solution with basic acetate of lead, furnished, w 7 hen dried 
at 212*,— 
