The extraction of anthocyanins from saffron (Crocus sativus) flower's tepal by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was studied. The independent factors were solvent to sample ratio (10:1‒100:1), extraction temperature (35‒75°C), and time (5‒15 min). Maximum irradiation power in all experiments was 360 W. We applied response surface methodology (RSM) in order to determine optimum processing conditions which give maximum extraction efficiency (mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g dried tepals). It was found that the influence of solvent ratio was more important for extraction yield than two other variables. Extraction conditions which maximized the extracted anthocyanins content were ratio of solvent to sample 77.5 ml/g, temperature 48°C, and extraction time of 9.3 min that resulted in 101 mg anthocyanins/g. In addition, MAE was a rapid and efficient technique for saffron anthocyanins due to disruption of cell walls under microwave irradiation, which was observed by microstructural analysis.
Keywords: anthocyanins; microwave‐assisted extraction; natural color; saffron.