Abstract: Objective: The separation of crocin and picrocrocin from saffron cell culture broth was investigated by macroporous resin adsorption. Methods: The effectiveness of 4 types of macroporous resin was compared in separating crocin and picrocrocin. The application of HPD-100A resin for separating crocin and picrocrocin from saffron cell culture broth was optimized. Results: HPD-100A resin was the best resin to separate crocin and picrocrocin from saffron cell culture broth among the investigated ones. The best separation of crocin and picrocrocin was achieved as an adsorption rate of 94.4% and 75.5% and a desorption rate of 99.9% and 87.5%, respectively when the cell culture broth was concentrated until a concentration of 1.0 mg/mL and 24.6 mg/mL for crocin and picrocrocin, respectively, temperature 25 ℃, pH 6, and 1.5 BV of each concentrate was loaded onto the column at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min after being adjusted to pH 6 and then eluted with 1.7 BV of 40% aqueous ethanol at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Conclusion: Macroporous resin adsorption is feasible and holds promise for separating crocin and picrocrocin from saffron cell culture broth.

Key words: macroporous adsorption resin, crocin, picrocrocin, extraction, saffron cell culture