Drying Characteristics of Dracocephalum moldavica Leaves: Drying Kinetics and Physicochemical Properties

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the method and temperature of the sublimation, vacuum and convective drying process on the kinetics of dehydration of the Moldovan dragonhead leaves, as well as on the physical and chemical properties, such as color coordinates, total content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, total monomeric anthocyanins content, total flavonoids content and content of essential oils. It was shown that the kinetics of the sublimation and vacuum drying process are best described by the logarithmic and Page models. Sublimation and vacuum drying were characterized by comparable process times. An increase in drying temperature caused a decrease in the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the dried material and a significant change in the composition of essential oils. The lowest brightness of the dried material and the lowest color saturation was found after sublimation drying at 20 degrees C. The highest dried material quality was found in case of convective and sublimation drying at 20 degrees C.