Chemical structure of crocin.

Crocin is a natural carotenoid chemical compound that is found in the flowers crocus and gardenia. It is the diester formed from the disaccharide gentiobiose and the dicarboxylic acid crocetin. It has a deep red color and forms crystals with a melting point of 186 °C. When dissolved in water, it forms an orange solution. Carotenoids are organic pigments naturally occurring in plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some types of fungus and some bacteria. ... Species See text. ... Species Gardenia jasminoides Gardenia is a genus and common name of a popular garden and house plant. ... General formula of an ester of a carboxylic acid. ... Chemistry A disaccharide is a sugar (a carbohydrate) composed of two monosaccharides. ... Structure of a carboxylic acid Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group, which has the formula -C(=O)-OH, usually written as COOH. In general, the salts and anions of carboxylic acids are called carboxylates. ... Chemical structure of crocetin. ...

Crocin is the chemical ingredient primarily responsible for the color of saffron. Saffron is the name given to the dried stigma and part of the style of the saffron crocus, traditionally called Crocus sativus, which are harvested, dried, and used for cooking. ...