Figure 1

Chemical structures of selected crocin ester glycosides isolated from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L. The crocins are divided according to the number and the position of the β-l-glucopyranosides attached to the central carotenoid unit (Crocetin- CR), comprising crocetin mono- and bis-ester glycoside compounds with the end-substituents being mono- (Glycosyl- TC1) and bi- (1β-d-gentiobiosyl- TC2, TC3 and TC4) disaccharide moieties.