Revista Europea de Biología Experimental Acceso abierto

Abstracto

Essential oil content and composition of Lippa citriodora as affected by drying method before flowering stages

Maryam Agah and Sharareh Najafian

The aerial parts of Lippa citriodora (Verbenaceae) were collected before flowering stage and dried by three different drying methods (sun-drying, shade-drying and oven-drying at 60 °C). The essential oils of every treatment were obtained by hydro-distillation method using Clevenger apparatus. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC—MS. The main constituents of the oils in shade method were Limonene (7.0%), 1, 8-Cineole (2.9%), (E)- β - ocimene (2.9%), Neral (24.1%), Geranial (31.9%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.1%), GermacreneD (4.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (3.4%).The analysis of variance showed that the different drying methods had a significant effect on the quantity of essential oil. Finally it could be concluded that shade drying method is suitable for highest essential oil quantity and Limonene, Neral and Geranial concentration.