Studies on commercial saffron

Two commercial samples of saffron were analysed for moisture and ash contents, solubility in water, action with sulphuric acid, presence of foreign dyes and colour intensity of water soluble solution.The moisture content in Laccha was 12.7% while it was 11% in Mogra. The ash was 4.7% in both the samples. The water soluble matter in Laccha was 52.7% and 45.8% in Mogra. There was no foreign dye in these samples. The colour intensity of 0.02% saffron solution of both the samples corresponded to 0.07% of potassium dichromate at 470 mm.