Dutta et al.

dryingandsundrying.Theseresultsareinagreement

citral content and percentage composition of geranial

with those obtained from the essential oil extraction

and neral were higher when lemongrass was

from Mentha piperita (Adanela et al., 2013). This is

harvested at 6.5 months after planting. The major

due to shorter exposure of lemongrass leaves in oven

components were geranial (citral-a), neral (citral-b),

drying method which might be causing lesser loss of

caryophellene and limonene in the essential oils of

essential oil.

lemongrass leaves under different drying treatments.

The methods of drying have no significant effect on

Ranitha et al. (2014a) and Abdurahman et al. (2013)

thequalitiesofessentialoilinrespectofsaponification

also reported that the lemongrass oil contains neral,

value, iodine value and acid value (Table 1). The

geranial and myrcene as main constituents and some

average saponification value of lemongrass oil was

minor compounds such as linalool, geranic acid

144.16 ± 0.21 mg KOH/g. Higher saponification

and citronellol. The results of different components

justifies the enrichment of fat or oil content and

present (Table 2) in the essential oil, showed that

can be used for cosmetics industries. The average

drying method had no significant effect on the major

component of the essential oils but had a significant

Iodine value 115.85±0.57 g I ₂ /100g of lemongrass oil

was obtained, which showed that the oil belongs

effect on their percentages. The same effects were

to the class of Non-drying oils (Kochhar, 1998).

also found in case of other essential oil bearing

These values indicate that lemongrass oil is in the

plant (Adanela et. al., 2013). Ranitha et al. (2014b)

range of semi drying oils, consisting predominantly

reported that there were no significant difference

polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly oleic and lenoliec

between the constituents of essential oil obtained

fatty acid. This class of oils whose iodine value is

by microwave assisted hydrodistillation and those

between 100-150 possesses the property of absorbing

obtained by conventional hydrodistillation by their

oxygen on exposure to the atmosphere (Warra et al .,

GCMS studies. Among the different oil components

2011). An Acid value of lemon grass oil was recorded

estimated, neral and geranial content were higher

4.35 mg KOH/g. This acid value is lower than the

compare to the other components. Kalita et al. 2012

reported acid value of olive oil, shea nut fat or shea

reported that the major constituent of lemongrass

nut butter, indicating for its suitability in cosmetic

oil were alpha citral (41.89%) followed by beta citral

industries. It has also been observed that the quantity

(34.90%), 1- methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane (3.13%) and

of lemongrass oil was increase with time, by hydro

toluene (2.83%) in Sikkim region. Edwin et al. (2012)

distillation for all the samples of drying treatments

also observed higher percentage of essential oil in

including the fresh leaves. It was found that the

dried samples as compared to fresh samples and the

extraction of lemongrass reached its optimum point

essential oil of C. citratus was mainly composed of

at 60 minutes of hydro distillation (Figure 1). This

monoterpenes hydrocarbons, of which, citral is the

indicates that there was no significant effect of

main component.

drying parameter on the content of lemongrass oil

Conclusion

extraction.

Oven drying of lemongrass oil leaves is more suitable

Eleven components were identified in the essential

and recommended for the extraction of higher

oil of fresh and dried C. citratus leaves by different

essential oil recovery, whereas the shade drying is

drying methods. The chemical constituents of oils

suitable and recommended for the higher percentage

are presented along with their retention time in

major component recovery. This might be due to

Table 2 and in Figure 2 of GCMS chromatograph.

exposure of lemon grass leaves sample in very low

Tajidin et al. (2012) reported 65 chemical compounds

temperature during shade drying. But, there was no

in the essential oil of lemongrass where only 13 of

significant effect of drying on the physiochemical

the compounds were present in different maturity

properties and dynamic of essential oil extraction by

stages. However, they reported that the percentage

hydro distillation.

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