Characterisation of the Convective Hot-Air Drying and Vacuum Microwave Drying of : Antioxidant Activity, Essential Oil Volatile Composition and Quality Studies.

The preservation of active constituents in through the removal of moisture is crucial in producing a final product with high antioxidant activity. This study aims to determine the influences of various drying methods and drying conditions on the antioxidant activity, volatiles and phytosterols content of . The drying methods used were convective drying (CD) at 40 °C, 50 °C and 60 °C; freeze drying; vacuum microwave drying (VMD) at 6, 9 and 12 W/g; and two-stage convective pre-drying followed by vacuum microwave finish drying (CPD-VMFD) at 50 °C and 9 W/g.

Antioxidant Activity, and Volatile and Phytosterol Contents of Dehydrated Using Conventional and Vacuum Microwave Drying Methods.

The preservation of active constituents in fresh herbs is affected by drying methods. An effective drying method for which is increasingly marketed as an important herbal tea remains to be reported. This study evaluated the effects of conventional and new drying technologies, namely vacuum microwave drying methods, on the antioxidant activity and yield of essential oil volatiles and phytosterols.