Maryam Agah and Sharareh Najafian
The aerial parts of Lippa citriodora (Verbenaceae) were collected before flowering stage and dried by three different drying methods (sun-drying, shade-drying and oven-drying at 60 °C). The essential oils of every treatment were obtained by hydro-distillation method using Clevenger apparatus. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC—MS. The main constituents of the oils in shade method were Limonene (7.0%), 1, 8-Cineole (2.9%), (E)- β - ocimene (2.9%), Neral (24.1%), Geranial (31.9%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.1%), GermacreneD (4.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (3.4%).The analysis of variance showed that the different drying methods had a significant effect on the quantity of essential oil. Finally it could be concluded that shade drying method is suitable for highest essential oil quantity and Limonene, Neral and Geranial concentration.
