Changes and degradation kinetics of some bioactive compounds in dried Orthosiphon aristatus (Java tea) leaves during elevated temperature storage.

BACKGROUND: Orthosiphon aristatus is a traditional medicinal herb mostly used in Southeast Asia and which has many health benefits. Packaging types and storage temperatures were investigated in order to select the best conditions for producing high bioactive compounds (BC) from two kinds of dried O. aristatus leaves. RESULTS: Blanched leaves were vacuum packed in polypropylene (PP) and aluminum foil laminated with polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene (PET/Al/PE) and dried in a freeze dryer (B_FD) or heat pump-assisted dehumidified dryer (B_HPD60) at 60 °C prior to storage at 15, 25 and 35 °C for 6 months. Leaves in PET/Al/PE bags had higher total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AOA) and BC than in PP bags (P ≤ 0.05). Storage at 15 °C retained the highest TPC and AOA in PET/Al/PE bags (P ≤ 0.05). The degradation kinetics for BC, sinensetin and eupatorin followed first-order kinetics. Half-lives (t1/2 ) for BC in PET/Al/PE were higher than in PP and were the highest at 15 °C for both packaging types. CONCLUSIONS: Low temperature and PET/Al/PE bags provided the highest bioactive compound retention. The dried leaves from B_HPD60 and packed in PET/Al/PE bags had higher resistance to degradation of sinensetin than B_FD in PP bags. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of packaging types and storage conditions on quality aspects of dried Thunbergia laurifolia leaves and degradation kinetics of bioactive compounds.

Thunbergia laurifolia leaves were dried by freeze drying (FD) and microwave heat pump dehumidified air drying (MHPD). The dried leaves were stored in polypropylene (PP) or aluminum laminated pouches (ALP) at 15, 25 or 35 °C and 60% RH. The samples were held for 180 days to observe changes in moisture content, color, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, catechin and caffeic acid. In general, samples in PP had a greater increase in moisture. Total phenolics content and ferric-reducing antioxidant power values increased for 120 days, then decreased thereafter. After 180 days, both FD and MHPD samples packaged in ALP and stored at 15 °C had the greatest total phenolics, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds amongst the storage conditions. The first-order equation best described degradation behavior of catechin and caffeic acid for both drying technologies investigated.

Effects of steam-microwave blanching and different drying processes on drying characteristics and quality attributes of Thunbergia laurifolia Linn. leaves.

BACKGROUND: Dried Thunbergia laurifolia leaves are usually prepared using tray drying, resulting in products that have lost substantial amounts of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. The maturity of the raw material, blanching techniques and drying methods were investigated in order to select the best condition to produce high qualities of dried T. laurifolia leaves. RESULTS: The 1st stage of maturity was selected and steam-microwave blanching (SMB) for 4 min was adequate for blanching leading to the maximum recovery of bioactive compounds. The modified Halsey model was the best desorption isotherm model. A new drying model proposed in this study was the best to fit the drying curves as compared to five common drying models. Moisture diffusivities were increased with the increase of drying temperature when combining SMB and heat pump-dehumidified drying. Microwave heat pump-dehumidified drying (MHPD) provided the shortest drying time, high specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) and could reduce drying time by 67.5% and increase caffeic acid and quercetin by 51.24% and 60.89%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MHPD was found to be the best drying method and provided the highest antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds content, high SMER and short drying time. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.