Study on the Effects of Different Drying Methods on Weight Loss Rate, Essential oil and Chamazolene Contents of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita CV. Germania (Diploid)) Flowers

To compare the effects of different drying temperatures and different microwave powers and two different natural methods (shaded and sunny area) in chamomile (Matricaria recutita (L.) Rauschert CV. Germania (diploid)) essential oil and chamazolene content, drying time and drying rate, an experiment was carried out at the research field of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran during 2007-2008. The experimental design was completely randomized block design including three temperatures: 50, 60 and 70 °C, six microwave powers: 100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900 w and drying in shaded and sunny area, with three replications. The drying process was continued until the mass of the sample reduced to a moisture content of about 0.10 on a dry basis or 10% on a wet basis. The results indicate that different treatments of drying had a significant effect on the drying time, drying rate and essential oil and chamazolene content. The maximum essential oil content (%0.72) obtained at drying in shaded area and the lowest one was obtained at drying by microwave and high temperatures of oven. Maximum chamazolene content obtained at microwave drying (except 100w power) and natural method (both shaded and sunny areas). Minimum chamazolene content was obtained at drying by oven.