From Floral By-Product to Bioactive Resource: Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Potential of Crocus sativus Stamens.

The production of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) generates large quantities of floral by-products, particularly stamens, which are often discarded despite their potential as sources of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive and comparative characterization of C. sativus stamen extracts and fractions using a multianalytical approach (UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, ICP-OES, and spectrophotometry), in order to reveal their nutritional, phytochemical, and antioxidant potential. Elemental analyses revealed high levels of essential macro- and micronutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. Spectrophotometric and chromatographic assays quantified sugars and proteins, while UHPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD identified key phenolic acids and flavonoids, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, and crocin. GC-MS profiling of the petroleum ether fraction showed palmitic and oleic acids as major components. The hydrolyzed ethyl acetate fraction displayed the highest antioxidant activity across DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene bleaching, and metal-chelating assays, likely due to the release of aglycone phenolics and synergistic effects. This work introduces an original integrative analysis of saffron stamens, highlighting them as an underexplored and sustainable source of bioactive nutrients and antioxidants with promising applications in the food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.