effects of cultivation condition and storage on dried stigmata of crocus sativus l. on determination of crocin

background & aim: saffron extract is widely used in the food industry. saffron (crocus sativus l.) stigmata contain rare water-soluble carotenoids and the major one is crocin and this compound have a antitumor in rate and human losomi cells and other model of cancer cells.  in this research, we are study on effects of cultivation condition and storage on dried stigmata of   crocus sativus l. on determination of crocin. martial & methods: samples were collected on november 2006 from two providences (tehran and markazi). we kept samples for 20 months dried stigmata of crocus sativus l . in three different conditions light, dark and refrigerator on zero degree and on november 2008 samples were analysed by high- performance liquid chromatography (hplc). results & discussion: crocin content from tehran province (karaj)  in light were 0.029%, dark 0.041% and refrigerator 0.030% and for markazi province (khomaine) were in light 0.030%, dark 0.030% and refrigerator 0.028%. conclusion: with the results of above the best condition to kept dried stigmata of crocus sativus l. are dark.