EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DRYING METHODS ON THE ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENTS OF Matricaria chamomilla FLOWER; A MEDICINAL PLANT

An experiment was conducted at the New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan during 2014 to determine the effect of different drying treatments on the essential oil contents of the flower of a medicinal plant, Matricaria chamomilla. Matricaria chamomilla was dried through various methods such as Flat plate solar dryer (FPSD), direct sunlight, shade and oven drying at 30°C, 40oC, 50°C, 60°C and 70°C.The essential oil contents were extracted from the dried flower of Matricaria chamomilla, by water distillation using Clevenger type apparatus. Three parameters were studied such as essential oil contents, drying period, and moisture content in dried product. Data were analyzed statistically under completely randomized design (CRD). Maximum essential oil was obtained 0.29% under shade drying and 0.28% by Flat Plate Solar drying (FPSD), oven drying at 30°C and 40°C, however these methods were non-significant from each other. High temperature and direct sun drying significantly decreased essential oil content. Maximum period consumed under drying at shade, sun and oven drying at 30°C were 288, 504,and 168 hours, respectively, and their dried sample having high moisture contents (11.91%, 10.91%, 11.79%), as compared to Flat plate solar drying and Oven drying at 50°C, 60°C and 70°C.