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Abstract (in English)
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive agricultural products in the world, which, having many secondary metabolites, is one of the oldest medicinal plants and currently has many uses in addition to medicine. Crocin, safranal and picrocrocin are among the most valuable compounds of saffron. These compounds are stored in a small amount in the cell and can be produced at a certain stage of the plant's life cycle, and their amount is often low (less than one percent of dry weight), while primary metabolites are produced in all cells. The reason secondary metabolites are valuable and expensive depends on their extraction and purification. The purpose of presenting this review article is to introduce secondary metabolites, factors affecting these metabolites, and to determine the best condition and storage conditions for saffron, for the durability of these compounds. Various factors affect the decrease and increase of secondary metabolites and antioxidant properties of this plant.