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Application of Solar Drier for Drying of Medicinal Plant Materials.

S. P. Paul
Divisional Officer
Seasoning & Timber Physics Division,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute,Chittagong.

Md. Rowson Ali
Research Officer
Seasoning & Timber Physics Division,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong.

U. K. Rokeya
Field Investigator
Seasoning & Timber Physics Division,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong.

M. Akter Hossain
Research Officer
Seasoning & Timber Physics Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The solar drier is a specific structure of wooden frame with glazing materials that is heated by the sun in a collector and then passed over the produce which is to be dried. The study includes five numbers of medicinal plant materials namely basak (Adhatoda vasica), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), neem (Azadirachta indica), ghritokumari (Aloe indica) and satomuli (Asparagus racemosa). For basak, tulsi, neem and ghritokumari, only leaves were used for drying purpose. But in case of satomuli, only roots were used. It is evident from data that the leaves of different species attain 80 % to 90 % dryness much faster in the solar drier in comparison with room temperature conditions. For satomuli (Asparagus racemosa) it was found that in whole root the variation in MC % with time is not remarkable both in solar drier and room temperature conditions. In case of torn root, the drying effect in solar drier attained nearly 80 % within 20-23 days. On the other hand, splitted root showed maximum effect of drying in 20-23 days in solar drier conditions.

Keywords: Solar drier, Basak, Tulsi, Neem, Satomuli

Location:

Start Date: 01-07-2006

End Date: 30-06-2010

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Drier

Objectives:

1. To develop cheaper and efficient drying process for medicinal and other plant materials.

2. To motivate farmers to adopt solar drying technique for drying medicinal plant materials.

Methodology:

The effectiveness of solar drier was evaluated through drying of medicinal plant materials namely basak (Adhatoda vasica) leaves, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves, neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, ghritokumari (Aloe indica) plants/leaves and satomuli (Asparagus racemosa) roots. The experiment with basak, tulsi and neem leaves was conducted in March, 2008. On the other hand, the ghritokumari (Aloe indica) plant and satomuli (Asparagus racemosa) roots were tested in February, 2010 in cloud free sunny days. To assess the drying efficiency of different medicinal plant materials through Solar Drier (SD), the room temperature (RT) conditions were considered as control. The raw materials of basak, tulsi and neem leaves were collected from Bangladesh Forest Research Institute campus but the ghritokumari (Aloe indica) plant and satomuli (Asparagus racemosa) roots were collected from Laxmipur-Kholabaria of Natore. For all the species, the raw materials were conserved in the separate air-tight polybag immediately after their collection to avoid moisture loss. In case of basak, tulsi and neem, the leaves of individual species were included in the treatments. But, in case of ghritokumari, the whole plant with root whole leaf, torn leaf and splitted leaf was tested. For satomuli roots, the whole root, torn root and splitted root were included in the experiment. Three replications were taken in the experiment for each of the treatments. For each replication, raw and fresh leaves and roots with 500-1000 g samples were prepared for drying. The moisture content of the leaves and roots was measured at 1-2 days interval. After drying, the samples were stored in the air-tight plastic containers.

Source of Information: Journal of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development 36 (2): 89-98, 2009

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) : Tk. 2,80,000.00

Achievement/Findings:

The solar drier is effective for drying of different medicinal plant materials. This improved drying technique can be applied to farmers for solving drying and storage problems of medicinal plant materials. The problems of traditional practice of air drying or open sun drying that yields low quality dry matter of medicinal plant materials can be overcome through use of improved solar drier. Solar drier attaches several advantages in the drying process of the plant materials. It minimizes quantitative loss as well as reduces contamination with fungus and other microbial infestation by improving the quality of dry matters. In comparison to traditional sun or air drying, the solar drier enhances evenly drying of raw materials having less than 10 % MC in the dry matter. This facilitates good storage of the dry medicinal plant materials out of which the farmers can be economically benefited. For effective use of the improved solar drier, motivation of the small holding farmers is required. Extrapolation of the technology can make farmers economically benefited from quality service of drying process and their effective utilization.

Knowledge Management: Journal