Two-step, low-pressure liquid chromatography has been used to isolate crocins, the most abundant compounds in the hydroalcoholic extract of saffron. A mixture of styrenedivinylbenzene copolymer and modified starch polymers was used as stationary phase. A 600 mm 15 mm i.d. column was used in the first step; the best resolution was achieved by gradient elution with an aqueous methanol gradient with the methanol content changing from 50 to 95%. The highest yield of crocins from this step was achieved by use of 20 mL of 300 mg mL1 saffron extract. Under these conditions the yellow pigments of the saffron extract were separated into twenty fractions. In the second step use of a 700 mm 8 mm i.d. column resulted in crocin-1 [crocetin (di--D-gentobisyl) ester], crocin-2 [crocetin (mono--D-gentobisyl-mono--D-glycoside) ester], and crocin-3 [crocetin (-D-gentobisyl)-ester] with purity as high as 99.04%, 97.40%, and 96.70%, respectively.