Variations in the Quality and Yield of the Essential Oil from Artemisia afra Using Different Drying Methods.

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Date
2007
Authors
Asekun, O.T.
Grierson, D.S.
Afolayan, A.J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Abstract
The impact of drying methods, namely, air, sun and oven-drying on the quality and quantity of the essential oil of Artemisia afra was studied. The oil yields from the plant differed according to the drying methods; viz: 0.18%, 0.88%, 1.54% and 1.88% for fresh, oven-dried, air-dried and sun-dried oils respectively. The essential oil from the plant contained mostly monoterpenoids (96.3% - 84.0%) and, to a small extent, sesquiterpenoids (2.6% - 0.1%). Compounds such as α- and β-Thujone (52.1 - 39.8%), camphor (14.4 - 8.2%), 1, 8-cineole (21.8–13.1%) and borneol (7.8 - 2.7%) which are the major components responsible for the characteristic flavour of the herb, were present in significant amounts in the oils from the entire dried herb preparations. The fresh oil contained artemi-sia ketone (6.9%), which was absent in the dried oils. Apart from the large quantitative difference in the yield of the hydrodistillates, there was no significant loss of volatile components, except in the sun-dried oil which were mainly sesquiterpenoids. Generally, the drying methods had no significant effect on the monoterpenoids composition of the essential oils from A. afra, however sun drying which has the lowest no of components (14) has the highest percentage oil yield and composition.
Description
Staff Publications
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Organic chemistry , Artemisia afra , α-thujone , Essential oil , β-thujone , camphor
Citation
Asekun, O. T., Grierson, D. S., & Afolayan, A. J. (2007). Variations in the quality and yield of the essential oil from Artemisia afra using different drying methods. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, Vol.10(1), 5-9p.