Different methods to extract volatile oil from leaves of different medical plants [electronic resources].

Includes references.

The object of the present study was to investigate the effect of different drying methods on percentage and components of volatile oil distilled from some aromatic plants leaves. The natural sun drying at 30°C ±1 and the artificial drying using artificial batch dryer are the two different methods used to dry the leaves. Drying methods were carried out under three different levels of air temperature (35, 40 and 45 °C), and air velocity of (2 m/s), for different plants spearmint (Mentha viridis L), sage (Salvia officinalis L), and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum, L var. basilicum). The obtained resuIIs Indicated that: - 1-In natural drying, moisture content decreased from 88.7 to 13.7 %, 85.6 to 14.1 % and 89.2 to 13.9 % at drying time of 42, 46 and 44 hours for spearmint, sage and sweet basil, respectively. 2- In artificial drying the recorded drying times at drying air temperature of 35, 40 and 45°C were 18, 16 and 14 hours for spearmint 20,18 and 16 hours for sage, and 20, 18 and 16 hours for sweet basil moisture content decreased from 88.7 to 13.7 %, 85.6 to 14.1 % and 89.2 to 13.9 % for spearmint, sage and sweet basil, respectively. 3- Percentage of volatile oils distilled from the leaves of the studied aromatic plants, varied and it decreased as the drying air temperature increased over 40 °C. 4- The optimum distillation time to distillate volatile oils for dry leaves from spearmint, was one hour, while II was two hours for sage and sweet basil. 5- The maximum percentage of volatile oil components were obtained from artificial drying at 40 °C and sir velocity of 2 m/s. 6- Artificial drying of the studied plants at drying air temperature of 40°C is recommended for shorter drying time, higher percentage of volatile oil, and getting dried plants without contamination.

Summary in Arabic.

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