Retention of Caffeic Acid Derivatives in DriedEchinacea purpurea

Abstract

Different drying methods were applied to fresh Canadian-grown Echinacea purpurea flowers to determine optimal drying procedures for preserving caffeic acid derivatives. Fresh flowers of E. purpurea were dried by freeze-drying (FD), vacuum microwave drying with full vacuum (VMD), and air-drying (AD) at 25, 40, and 70 degrees C. Using HPLC, chicoric acid and caftaric acid levels were quantitated in dried flowers. These acids were significantly affected by the drying method conditions used. Although significant (p < 0.05) loss of chicoric acid was observed when flowers were stored at high moisture, VMD flowers with a low moisture content retained the highest levels of chicoric acid and caftaric acid similar to FD flowers. Flowers that were AD at 25 degrees C retained about 50%, while those dried by AD at 70 degrees C resulted in the lowest retention of these acids. Although flowers dried by AD at 40 degrees C retained relatively high amounts of chicoric acid and caftaric acid, the time (55 h) required to reach optimal drying was considerably longer than that (47 min) for VMD.

The economic potential of beach-cast seagrass – Cymodocea nodosa: a promising renewable source of chicoric acid

“…As a result, discrepancies in the composition of commercial herbal medicines from Echinacea are observed (Pellati et al 2004). In addition, care must be taken to avoid the degradation of CA during storage and extraction of Echinacea (Kim et al 2000, Pellati et al 2004. Indeed, CA is sensitive to the enzymes present in Echinacea in moist conditions.…”

The Synthesis and Storage Sites of Phenolic Compounds in the Root and Rhizome of &lt;i&gt;Echinacea purpurea&lt;/i&gt;

“…And it was reported to have HIV-1 and HIV-1 integrase inhibiting effect [9]. The root and rhizome is the medicinal valued portion of E. purpurea, and its biological yield and cichoric acid content are enhanced by optimization of cultivation management, post-harvest and extraction [10][11][12][13]. A report of [14] showed that the phenolic compounds mainly present in the parenchyma cells of cortex and phloem, as well as in the pith.…”

The quantity of biologically active substances in purple coneflower as influenced by the preparation methods and drying technologies

“…Regardless of the species of a medicinal-aromatic plant, its morphological part or purpose, it is indicated that drying of medicinal-aromatic plants, which accumulate non-volatile active substances, is recommended at 50-100°C (Müller, Heindl, 2006). After drying the purple coneflower at a temperature of 40-70°C, it was determined that the higher temperature of drying agent increased losses of phenolic compounds, as well as losses of chicoric acid (Kim et al, 2000;Stuart, Wills, 2003;Lin et al, 2011). Many researchers have analysed various drying methods used for purple coneflower: freeze-drying, vacuum microwave and convection drying (Kim et al, 2000;Stuart, Wills, 2003;Lin et al, 2011).…”

“…After drying the purple coneflower at a temperature of 40-70°C, it was determined that the higher temperature of drying agent increased losses of phenolic compounds, as well as losses of chicoric acid (Kim et al, 2000;Stuart, Wills, 2003;Lin et al, 2011). Many researchers have analysed various drying methods used for purple coneflower: freeze-drying, vacuum microwave and convection drying (Kim et al, 2000;Stuart, Wills, 2003;Lin et al, 2011). However, we lack more detailed data on the influence of methods of the medicinal plant raw material preparation for drying and time of drying on the biologically active substances.…”