is it safe to oven-dry medicinal plant samples (legumes and leaf parts) under 30°C?Provided that the plant's growing temperature is around this temperature.
Some stated that it must be below 40°C to avoid any changes on the phytochemicals within.
I think it is safe but ,the best method is shade drying with good ventilation and regular rotation, but this may take time
It depends to the type of secondary metabolites you are working on;
if the target is essential oil then your temp. limit is around 45 C to reduce the volatile content loss. If it is an alkaloid go up to 60-70 C. In case of glycosides, you should choose 50-60 C to stop enzymes activity. In case of vitamins choose 80 C to minimize oxidation.
Shade drying with maintaining under suitable circumstances
Thank you for the replies.
Yeah Sir @Phillip Morris, i expect there will be differences between the dry.and fresh wet sample. In addition, i am planning to find whether is it just the phytochemicals contribute to antibacterial property or does protein helps. Apparently protein,pandanin in P. amaryfollious is antiviral.
Hope my project is working provide the extraction method must be on point.
Shade drying in a ventilated area is preferable to oven drying. However, if you are running out of time, you may wish to adopt oven drying method at the temperature suggested by researchers on this page.
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