Biotechnological Potential of Algerian Saffron Floral Residues: Recycling Phytochemicals with Antimicrobial Activity

Overview

This investigation characterizes the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial efficacy of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) tepal extracts, utilizing floral residues as a source of bioactive metabolites. The work addresses resource valorization through systematic extraction methodology and functional evaluation against established microbial targets.

Methods and approach

Phytochemical profiling was conducted using spectrophotometric quantification and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Antioxidant capacity was assessed through radical scavenging assays. Antimicrobial activity was determined via minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) protocols against selected bacterial strains. Molecular docking simulations evaluated binding interactions between identified saffron metabolites and bacterial target proteins (2NRK, 2NZF, 8ACR).

Results

Aqueous successive and crude extracts demonstrated highest concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins. HPLC-DAD analysis identified gallic acid, epicatechin, and multiple anthocyanin compounds. These extracts exhibited substantial antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Molecular docking analyses demonstrated that chlorogenic acid and petunidin-3-glucoside exhibited high binding affinities for bacterial target proteins 2NRK and 2NZF, while epicatechin and pelargonidin displayed effective interactions with 8ACR.

Implications

The phytochemical composition and functional bioactivity of saffron tepals establish these materials as candidates for pharmaceutical development addressing antimicrobial resistance. The convergence of biochemical data with computational docking predictions supports the therapeutic potential of these metabolites against resistant bacterial phenotypes. The valorization of saffron floral residues through extraction and characterization demonstrates a systematic approach to resource optimization in botanical biotechnology, with implications for sustainable pharmaceutical sourcing and compound isolation methodologies.