Abstract

ASSIS, ANA LÚCIA ALVES DE; CIPRIANO, ROGER RAUPP; CUQUEL, FRANCINE LORENA  and  DESCHAMPS, CÍCERO. Effect of drying method and storage conditions on the essential oil yield and composition of Eugenia uniflora L. leaves. rev.colomb.cienc.hortic. [online]. 2020, vol.14, n.2, pp.275-282.  Epub Nov 11, 2022. ISSN 2011-2173.  https://doi.org/10.17584/rcch.2020v14i2.9281.

The essential oil produced by Eugenia uniflora leaves is intensively used by the cosmetic, pharmaceutic and perfumery industries, mainly because its antioxidant effect and antimicrobial and antihelmintic ativities. Drying and storage of aromatic plant leaves can affect yield and quality of essential oils. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of drying method and storage conditions on the essential oil yield and composition in Eugenia uniflora leaves. The essential oil was extracted from dried leaves at ambient temperature and at 45°C for six drying periods (0, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours). The essential oil yield was also analyzed after 0, 60, 120, and 180 days of storage in three types of packaging. The oil was extracted with hydrodistillation, and the composition was determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that drying leaves at ambient temperature and 45°C for 48 and 24 h, respectively, increased the essential oil yield. At 45°C, the monoterpene and sesquiterpene compounds increased, with curzerene+viridiflorene identified as the major compounds. The packaging did not affect the essential oil yield but increasing the storage period decreased it.

Keywords : post-harvest; aromatic plants; sesquiterne compounds; curzerene+viridiflorene; Surinam cherry.

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