Effects of drying methods on chemical composition of linden flower (Tilia tomentosa Moelch.) volatile compounds

In this study, effects of different drying methods on the chemical composition of Tilia tomentosa Moelch, known as Linden flower, was analyzed. Drying is a process to remove the water to ıncrese the shelf life of fınal products. Plant material was collected from Dallıca-Bartın, Turkey at the fırst week of July the 2011. Flowers and leaves were both analyzed. Four different drying methods; air drying, over drying, freeze drying and microwave drying, were applied. Air-drying was done at 60-70 % humidity and 26º C temperature for one week on a wire-mesh. Oven drying process took place in a laboratory type-oven at 45º C for 15-16 hour. For the extraction, 150 ml pentane-dichloromethane (2:1 v/v) was used with 10 g of plant material. Also, Simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) was done. 30 g of plant material, 150 ml diethylether and 200 ml distillied water was used. Samples were analyzed by FID-GC and GC-MS. Thirty-three compound was determined in SDE extract while fifty-nine in PDM extract. SDE extract was found to be rich for monoterpenes. However, PDM extract was constituent of hydrocarbons. Between the drying methods microwave drying gave better results.