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Received Aug 16, 2017; Revised Dec 12, 2017; Accepted Dec 28, 2017
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1. Introduction
Mold is a major cause of deterioration during the harvest and storage of food and medicinal plants. It is relatively easy to avoid this type of contamination because molds can be easily seen on such products. However, contamination with mycotoxins, the toxic metabolite products of molds, is hidden because of the microscopic size of the particles concerned. When food is contaminated with mycotoxins, the sensory characteristics of the food generally do not change significantly, so contamination can easily pass unnoticed. Furthermore, mycotoxins are heat resistant; therefore, cooking is not an effective method for their removal [1]. According to the published literature, mycotoxins have been shown to be carcinogenic [2], mutagenic, teratogenic, and toxic to cells [3]. Effect of irradiation on chemical composition and some other aspects of some medicinal herbs has been studied [4–9]. However, the specific application of irradiation sterilization technology on medicinal herbs needs to be considered based on the characteristics of each species.
Cobalt 60 (60Co-γ) irradiation technology is an effective method for the decontamination of food and medicines from both insect infestation and mycotoxin contamination. It works by destroying the microbes in a sample and by damaging the DNA material in living organisms. Under the correct conditions, gamma irradiation can effectively destroy mycotoxin, so it is an important technology for plants decontamination [10]. To date, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has permitted the use of irradiation treatment for the decontamination of plant-derived food materials in more than 55 countries including the United States, the European Union, South Korea, and China. An irradiation dose below 10 kGy is permitted in this context [11–13].
Saffron (Iridaceae) reportedly has certain positive health effects, such as activating blood flow and removing blood stasis, cooling the blood detoxification, removing depression, and anchoring the mind [14]. It is widely used to promote good blood circulation, to relieve blood stasis [15] and to treat cardiovascular disease [16]. In Chinese medicinal preparations, saffron is often used in powder form (such as in...