Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as affected by drying methods

The leaves of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) were dried using three different drying methods (sun-drying for 36 h, shade-drying for 48 h and oven-drying at 45 °C for 7 h). The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation of the leaves dried by every treatment, and was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/mass instruments. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in the essential oil content of leaves dried by different drying methods. Oven drying gave the highest essential oil percentage (2.45%) compared to shade-drying (2.12%) and sun-drying methods (2.10%). Eighteen components were identified in the essential oil of fresh and dried C. citratus leaves obtained by different drying methods, including geranial (citral-a), neral (citral-b) and myrcene as main components. The drying methods had a marked effect on the proportion of the various components.