Effect of drying and packaging methods on physico-chemical and phytochemical composition of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri L.) with respect to shelf life enhancement

摘要

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri L.) is a promising medicinal plant for the pharmaceutical and herbal industries due to its inclusive effect on central nervous system activity as a memory enhancer. Study was undertaken to assess the effect of different dryingmethods and packaging materials on physico-chemical properties of Brahmi. Fresh biomass of Brahmi was subjected to five different methods of drying viz., sun, solar tunnel, cabinet, low cost polyhouse and shade drying and four methods of packaging in gunny bags, polypropylene bags, cartons and HDPE. Among different drying methods, shade drying registered maximum drying time of around 15 days to reach the desired moisture content (<10%) while, drying was rapid in cabinet drying method (12-15 hours) whendried at 50°±1°C. Maximum greenness (2.67), chlorophyll a (0.70 mg/g), chlorophyll b (0.26 mg/g) and total chlorophyll (0.96 mg/g) contents were retained in shade drying. Maximum bacoside A content (2.01%) and texture (25.62 N) were recorded in tray dehydrated samples. Storage and packaging in polythene lined gunny bags and HDPE (500 guage) was found better in retaining the chlorophyll, color, texture, moisture and bacoside A content to a longer duration. The triterpene glycoside - bacoside A contentof 2.02% was best retained in cabinet dried material packed in HDPE even after one month of storage. Moisture content increased during storage and was found more pronounced in polypropylene bags and cartons. The shade dried sample stored in HDPE retained chlorophyll a content up to 0.54 mg/g after 5 months of storage which indicates the superiority of HDPE packaging over other methods. Among the different methods employed, cabinet drying or solar tunnel drying along with packaging in polythene lined gunny bags or HDPE were reflected as versatile methods of drying and packaging, respectively.