Extraction, Preparation of Dry Powder and Physico-Chemical Evaluation of Quince Seeds Mucilage

In the traditional medicine the use of quince seed mucilage to ameliorate cough and control of asthma signs is recommended. The aim of this study was to compare the cold-lyophilization, and warm-oven drying) and select a suitable drying method by studying the differences in physicochemical, purity and stability properties. Water and alcohol (95%) were used for extraction. The mucilage was divided in two parts, each dried by a different of cold or warm method. The conditions for the cold method (lyophilization or freeze drying) was 24h for both stages of freezing (-30°C) and drying (-50 °C and 50 mTor pressure) the temperature of drying by oven was also adjusted on 50 ±1 °C. The physicochemical characteristics, FT-IR analysis and elemental composition of both freeze and oven dried mucilages were compared, instrumentally. The mucilage dried by the cold method showed a better purity than the warm method. This difference of purity was clearly obvious and significant (P<0.05). However, the yield value of mucilage weight in warm method was about three fold higher than the cold method. The results of physicochemical properties and stability of the powder confirmed that evaluation parameters were well within the acceptable limits and showed a better result with the cold method. The appearance of brown color for the mucilage dried by oven method was observed which reflects oxidation by the product during the drying process. The mucilage dried by freeze drying had a better Physico-chemical, purity and stability properties.