Influence of Post-Harvest Drying Processes on the Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Leaves of Camphor Tree from Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

• Published in: Journal of essential oil-bearing plants (Dehra Dun) 2023-01, Vol.26 (1), p.161-175
• Main Authors: Kanyal, Bhawana, Pande, Chitra, Tewari, Geeta, Aabha, Rana, Lata, Padalia, Rajendra C., Kabdal, Tanuja, Prakash, Om, Singh, Shalini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bioactivity; camphor; Cinnamomum camphora; Drying; essential oil; GC/MS
• ISSN: 0972-060X; 0976-5026
• DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2023.2179426

Cinnamomum camphora L. belonging to family Lauraceae, is an aromatic evergreen plant which has been traditionally used to heal several health problems such as cold, fever, pneumonia, diarrhea and various infections. In this study, four drying treatments (sun, shade, blower and oven) were applied on the leaves of C. camphora collected in summer season and their effect on the yield, composition and biological properties of the essential oil was evaluated. Hydro distillation of fresh and dried samples was carried out by Clevenger apparatus and essential oils obtained were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Alpha-pinene, camphene, myrcene, limonene and camphor were the common major constituents of the essential oils. The highest essential oil yield was obtained by blower drying technique. Shade dried sample possessed the best antioxidant, antiinflammatory and α-amylase inhibition activities. The highest percentage of camphor was obtained in sun dried plant material. Despite of comparatively low essential oil yield in sun dried C. camphora, sun drying technique is less energy consuming and increased the content of major component of camphora leaves.