Picrocrocin, composing of safranal and glycoside, is one major compounds of saffron (Crocus sativus L. stigma), responsible for the bitter taste of saffron and a molecular marker of this spice, whose taste cannot be imitated from other spices or seasonings, and it can serve to identify true saffron. Saffron possesses various therapeutic activities such as antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, antitussive, antigenototoxic, anticancer, cytotoxic effects, anxiolytic, antioxidant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and relaxant activity. As major bioactive compounds of saffron, picrocrocin also has some valuable medicinal properties similar as saffron, especially anticancer effect.
