A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method to determine crocin II in saffron is described. The HPLC assay was performed on a Waters Spherisorb ODS2 column (250mm×4.6mm) eluting with methanol and 1% aqueous acetic acid (60∶40) at a flow rate of 0.8mL/min and monitoring at 440nm. Crocin II in five stigma samples of various flower development stages (about 10 days before blossom, about 4 days before blossom, first day of blossom, second day of blossom, third day of blossom) were detected. The result indicates that the stigmas about 4 days before blossom have the highest content of crocin II.
