METHOD FOR SEPARATING TRANS ISOMERIC CROCETIN FROM CIS ISOMERIC CROCETIN

The present invention relates to the technical field of extraction and separation of natural plant active ingredients, in particular to a method for separating trans isomeric crocetin from cis isomeric crocetin. Crocetin is a carotenoid compound having strong antioxidation, cardiovascular protection, and skin cancer suppression effects, having potential application value in medicine and skin care products. Crocetin and glucosides thereof are mainly present in gardenia jasminoides ellis fruit and crocus sativus. Gardenia jasminoides ellis fruit is cheap and abundant, providing rich sources of raw materials for crocetin. However, cis and trans isomers are present, and thus a method for separating trans isomer from cis isomer is provided. The method uses different binding capabilities between cis and trans isomeric crocetin to calcium ions. All-trans crocetin is prone to form regular molecular complexes with Ca2+ ions, that is, crystallization (precipitation) easily occurs, while cis-crocetin is not easy to form