Please let me know the best condition for the drying/dehydration of Medicinal Plants prior to extraction?
It may depend on the type of herb, the compounds of your interest (essential oils - volatile versus oleoresins - resinous).
Generally, to avoid losses of active compounds, It is best if you can use freeze drying. If not available, you can use oven drying at low temperature ranges (50 - 70 Celsius degrees) for 24 hours.
Hello Arif,
There are several methods of drying medicinal plants for biological activities.
As Teferra mentioned, to avoid losses of active compounds/ secondary metabolites, the best ways are
1. Freeze drying.
2. Oven drying at low temperature ranges (50 - 70 Celsius degrees) for 24 hours.
3. Shed drying.
But Lastly, it may depends on the type of herb and compound of interest.
Good Luck
Well, it's dependent on what kind of phyto-chemicals the researcher is interested on extracting. Whereas closed-room drying may be suitable for most, few others could be done in an environment with air flow, sun, heat etc.
It depends on your herb, shed drying may be good for medicinal plants,and you can also go with oven drying.
Blanching will be appropriate method. So as to maintain the color and nutrients.