https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:49461 Thu 18 May 2023 12:40:14 AEST ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:27327 Vitex agnus-castus (Vitex AC) leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for many years. Drying is important to prepare starting materials for further processing, as it is associated with production cost and quality of the materials. Herein, the effects of five different drying conditions on the physical, chemical and antioxidant properties of Vitex AC were evaluated. The results showed that 30% of dried leaves with moisture content of less than 7% could be produced from fresh leaves. Vitex AC leaves dried by freeze and vacuum drying at 65C had higher levels of bioactive compounds as well as higher antioxidant capacity in comparison with other drying conditions, revealing that these drying conditions are more suitable for drying Vitex AC leaves. However, freeze drying is costly and time-consuming; thus, vacuum drying at 65C is suggested for drying the Vitex AC leaves as the starting materials for further processing steps. Practical Applications: As drying is an important process to prepare starting materials for further processing steps, it is important to compare different drying methods to identify the most suitable method with low cost and less effect on material quality. The results showed that inappropriate drying conditions resulted in big loss of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. Vacuum drying at 65C was found to be the most suitable method, which can be easily applied for drying Vitex agnus-castus leaves in the industrial scale.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:38:36 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:33071 Hormosira banksii is a rich source of polyphenols, which can be utilized in the food or pharmaceutical industries. This study aimed to determine the impact of six drying methods on properties of the alga H. banksii. Our data revealed that drying conditions significantly affected recovery yield, residual moisture, extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC) as well as antioxidant capacity of H. banksii (P < 0.05). Optimal conditions for oven, vacuum and de‐humidification were 40, 50 and 50C, respectively, and microwave power is 840 W. Under optimal conditions, H. banksii prepared by freeze, de‐humidification and vacuum had significantly higher levels of TPC, total flavonoid content (TFC) and proanthocyanidins as well as possessing stronger antioxidant capacity in comparison with those prepared by sun, microwave and oven drying methods. As freeze drying is costly and time‐consuming, de‐humidification (50C, air in and out of 11.1 and 15.4%) and vacuum (50C, 10 psi) were recommended for drying H. banksii. Practical Applications: Algae possess various antioxidants with potential benefits for health. Drying is considered as a method for preserving materials, transport with low costs and especially first step for extraction, isolation and purification of active compounds. Thus, it is important to investigate the effects of drying conditions on the properties of the dried alga H. banksii. From the findings, the different drying conditions significantly affected the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of the dried alga and the optimal drying conditions could be applied for preparation of dried H. banksii for further processing (extraction, fractionation and isolation of bioactive compounds) as well as potential industrial applications (as a reference for drying H. banksii and other algae).]]> Fri 24 Aug 2018 13:45:06 AEST ]]>