The Effects Of Drying On Phytochemicals Of Self -Growıng Plant Taraxacum Officinale L.

Abstract

In this study, the effects of some drying techniques on the total amount of phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activity of Taraxacum officinale L., which is valuable for its pharmaceutical, antioxidant and nutritional properties, were investigated. The plant samples were divided into three groups; the group dried in sunlight (Ti), the group dried in a thermostatic oven (55 C) (T2) and the group dried in the shade (T3). As a result of the drying process, the total phenolic and flavonoid substance amounts, antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging (DPPH) and reducing power of extracts belonging to groups were determined. In the study, the highest total phenolic substance amounts were found as 37.69 2.25 mgGAE g' in the T3 group. In other groups, this amount was determined as 31.25+1.12 mg GAE g' in Ti and 24.24 2.03 mgGAE g' in T2, respectively. The amount of flavonide substance was deteimined as 43.84 2.03 mgQE g' in T3, 42.62 2.29 mgQE g' in Ti and 26.36 2.13 mgQE g' in T2, respectively. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and the highest Fe3--Fe2+ reducing capacity were found in Ti. As a result, although the shade drying method seems to be advantageous in terms of the total amount of phenolic and flavonid substances, it was concluded that, in drying and storing T officinale plant, the use of sun drying technique would be advantageous in terms of phytochemicals and that there is a need for new studies on the kinetics of the drying process in order to preserve the phytochemical structures.