Resumen

RODRIGUEZ FERRADA, Carlos Alberto; CARBALLO GUERRA, Caridad; HECHEVARRIA SOSA, Isabel  y  ACOSTA DE LA LUZ, Lérida. Energy saving in the medicinal plants drying. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2005, vol.10, n.1. ISSN 1028-4796.

A study of the medicinal plants drying was conducted by using an all-purpose solar drier located at "Dr. Juan Tomás Roig" Experimental Station of Medicinal Plants. According to the manufacturer, one of its advantages is the minimum energy consumption, 30 % of the total energy used. Those species that due to their great demand are the most cultivated were selected for the experiments: flowers of Calendula officinalis L. and of Matricaria recutita L., leaves of Plantago lanceolata and foliage of Parthenium hysterophorus L. All the material was collected in wild areas of the above mentioned station. The research was conducted from February 10th to March 13th, 2003, an obliged period, since according to their requirements, these species are cultivated during winter in Cuba. Parallel to the dessication in the equipment, samples were dried outdoors, in the shadow, directly in the sun and in a stove of recirculated air.The drying time, energy consumption, organoleptic characteristics, color and smell were determined to evaluate the quality of the dry drug and the pharmacognostic indexes of humidity, total ashes and active principles that were compared with the Branch Norms established in every of the studied species, excepting P. hysterophorus, where experimental data were used. The results showed that with the use of the all-purpose solar drier, a high quality drug is obtained and a considerable energy saving is possible.

Palabras clave : Energy saving; medicinal plants drying.