Effects of Different Drying Methods on Composition and Antioxidative Activities of Volatile Oils fromCymbopogon Citrates / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the effects of different drying methods on composition and antioxidative activities of the volatile oil fromCymbopogon citrates; To optimize the best drying method for Cymbopogon citrates. MethodsCymbopogon citrates was dried by drying in the sun, drying in the shade and oven drying at 40℃. Volatile oil was extracted by steam distillation. Chemical constituents in the volatile oil were analyzed by GC-MS and the antioxidative activities were determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP method).Results Extraction rate of the volatile oil fromCymbopogon citratesunder the environment of freshness, sun drying, shade drying and oven drying at 40℃ were 0.25%, 1.21%, 1.19% and 1.17%, respectively; after dried by different methods, main constituents and antioxidative activities of the volatile oil fromCymbopogon citrates were basically same. Conclusion Different drying methods have little influence on composition and antioxidative activities of the volatile oil fromCymbopogon citrates. Oven drying at 40℃ was the best way to dryCymbopogon citrates.