HerbResearch

The majority of R&D programs with Crocus sativus are organized in cooperation between Georges Betti (Medicinal & Aromatic Plants R&D) and Dr. Mathias Schmidt (Herbresearch Germany).

Studies of cultivation conditions and quality parameters

• Studies on many cultivars in relation with the properties described by Avicenna.
• Analysis of stigmates colltected in Tibet, India (Cashmere & Ladakh), Pakistan, Afghanistan Turkmenistan, Azerbaidjan, Iran (many regions), Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morrocco, France.
• Agricultural studies for the determination of factors having an impact on quality and biomass.
• Cultivations organised according to the WHO's GACP guideline.
• Experimental bio-cultivation established in Armenia (2010) and planned in Jordan (2011). Follow-up on quality.
• Scale-up cultivations in the Iranian part of Kurdistan. Follow-up on quality for a high-quality bio-product.
• Establishment of a gene bank in planning.
• Studies on the variability of the phytochemical composition in relation with the drying of the stigmates.
• Development of an analytical technique allowing the detection of adulterations of extracts by synthetical dyes.
• R&D on secondary metabolites for the confirmation of traceability and the origin of the herbal material.
• Education programs for saffron farmers in Europe within the UESS (Université Européenne des Saveurs & Senteurs).
• Follow-up on quality of the producers (France, Morrocco, Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Cashmere).

Studies on extraction

• Development of diverse extraction techniques (R&D aqueous and dry extract).
• Research on the concentration of diverse active constituents.
• Finalisation of an extraction method allowing for a variability of water-ethanol ratios.
• Extraction tests with supercritical carbon dioxide and different plant parts.
• Research on added value subproducts (styles, petals, pollen).
• Tests on the improvement of quality and yields by different pilot processes by ultrasound.
• Development of a method for the enzymatic transformation of picrocrocin into safranal.
• Registration of the brand Saffron’Extr^®.
• Work in progress on diverse crocusatins and the techniques for their isolation for a potential use in cosmetics.
• Research programs on stigmates, styles, pollen and fresh petals.
• Extractions of fresh plant material from diverse plant parts.
• Correlations between the norm ISO 3632 (spectrophotometry) and HPLC analysis for the quantification of the constituents. Program under development in 2011.
• Stability tests and ageing of diverse extracts in correlation with temperature.
• Possibility of creating isotope markers as a tamper-proof and easyly controlled quality parameter of the delivered extract.
• Multiple galenical formulations adapted to pharmaceuticals, agro-alimentary products, food supplements and cosmetics.

Pharmacological studies and clinical effects

• Bibliographic compilations for diverse studies in antidepressant and stimulant effects.
• Studies on properties and pharmacologic activities of Saffron’Extr^®.
• Studies on the depressive symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. Study currently running in Lebanon (2011).
• Toxicity studies in cancer cell lines. Program started in 2008 and updated in 2011 with the university of Ouagadougou.
• Current registration in RSA and for the markets of the SADC (South African Development Community) (2011).
• Development of a CTD (Common Technical Document) planned.