Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Nalini Trivedi, Anuradha Dutta, Rita S Raghuvanshi, AH Ahmad, Vinod Kumar and Anil Kumar

Abstract:
The present study evaluated the effect of different drying techniques on macronutrient composition, ascorbic acid, phenolic and flavonoid constituents of underutilized whole plant of Vernonia cinerea and leaves of Cichorium intybus with potential metabolic and anti-inflammatory properties. The fresh herbs were dried in solar-dryer (35 ± 2 °C, 10 h) and oven in oven dryer (45 °C, 7 h), and milled into powder (particle size ≤ 500 μm) for further analysis. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the moisture and carbohydrate content of solar dried samples as compared with oven dried samples with a corresponding increase in the protein, fiber and ash content in both the herbs. Fat content was decreased quantitatively in solar drying as compared to oven drying. Solar drying retained higher vitamin C content in both the plants (35.41 mg/100g and 108 mg/100g in Cichorium intybus leaves and Vernonia cinerea whole plant, respectively). Both the drying methods had significant effect on the phenolic constituents. Overall, solar drying emerged as a better technique for retaining macronutrients, ascorbic acid and bioactive compounds. Therefore, this method may be propagated for drying the herbs.