Džiovinimo būdų įtaka mėtų (Mentha) genties augalų spalvos ir fotosintetinių pigmentų kiekio pokyčiams

Abstract

Research was carried out in 2014–2015 at Aleksandras Stulginskis university, Open Access Joint Research Centre of Agriculture and Forestry, in the Laboratory of Raw Plant materials Quality. The aim of the research was to determine colour and photosintetic pigments changes in Mentha arvensis „Banana“, Mentha spicata var. crispa „Moroccan“, Mentha x spicata var. Swiss, Mentha suaveolens, Mentha x piperita var. citrata „Chocolate“. Mints were lyophylized for two days by SCANVAC Coolsafe 55-9 lyophilizator and dried by the hot air stream in 28 °C temperature. Quality parameters were detected in fresh, lyophilizated and dried mints. Colour changes (values L*, a*, b*) were measured by spectrophotometer Mini Scan XE. Amounts of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids determined by measuring the optical density of the solution respectively at 662 nm, 644 nm ir 440,5 nm by UV – Vis spectrophotometer. The best marketable appearance was of lyophilized mints comparing with dried. The concentration of photosintetic pigments depends on the processing methods. The highest amounts of carotenoids were accumulated in dried, chlorophylls – in lyophylized mints.