Essential oil yield and chemical composition of chamomile [Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert] under drying air temperature of 70º C

Abstract

The drying process under 70º C was periodically monitored, in Campo Largo-PR, in "CHAMEL Ind. e Com. de Produtos Naturais LTDA.", in the 2004 harvest. Simultaneously to the drying, the substances dragged by the steam of water were recovered by condensation. The hydrodistillation and GC-MS analyses were done in the UFPR Laboratories. A randomized experimental design was used, through polynomials regressions (P£0,01). The reduction of the water content and chamomile essential oil was progressive during the drying process; the reduction of the tenor of essential oil of the chamomile happens in the beginning of the drying; was possible to recover the substances volatilized during under 70º C drying temperature; the aromatic water (condensed) composition was: artemisia ketona, bisabolol oxide B, alpha-bisabolol, bisabolene oxide, bisabolol oxide A; the essential oil components concentration of the chamomile, except for the alpha-pinene, were just numerically altered, without peculiar behavior in relation to the conditions of drying time.