DRYING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS IN ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

Studies were conducted to show the effect of different temperatures in the drying process on the amount and quality of essential oils of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) The rosemary twigs were harvested in the Demeter Farmer, Botucatu, SP, Brazil in december, 1997. The twigs were dried at 40^oC, 60^oC and 80^oC, until establishment of the weights.
The leaf essential oil was extracted by destilation in Clevenger apparatus and analysed by GC-MS.

Higher drying temperature decreased the essential oil content (% w/w), from 2,13% (40^oC) to 1,62% (60^oC) and 1,09% (80^oC). Essential oil composition was similar, except for camphor in the 40^oC and 60^oC treatments.
However, there were decreasing in concentrations of, α-pinene, β-myrcene and camphor, when comparing essential oil composition from the 40^oC and 80^oC treatments.

I Latin-American Symposium on the Production of Medicinal, Aromatic and Condiments Plants

M.C.S.G. Blanco, L.C. Ming, M.O.M. Marques, O.A. Bovi

Rosmarinus officinalis L.; essential oils yield, drying temperatures, post harvesting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.569.16