Effect of Different Drying Processes on the Quality of Ficus hirta Vahl.

In order to comprehensive evaluate the quality of Ficus hirta Vahl., which were dried under sun, fumigated by sulfur dioxide, dried by vacuum freezing, and dried by hot air at 50 ℃, the contents of psoralen, total polyphenols, total flavones, soluble sugars and volatile components were determined by HPLC and GC-MS. The results showed that 22, 19, 15 and 12 h was needed to reduce the moisture content of Ficus hirta Vahl. to 15% (safe storage moisture content), respectively. When Ficus hirta Vahl. were dried by sun drying, sulfur dioxide fumigated drying, vacuum freezing drying and 50 ℃ hot air drying, the contents of psoralen were 0.49, 0.60, 0.35 and 0.71 mg/g, respectively. The content of total polyphenols were 1.50, 3.95, 1.44 and 1.59 mg/g, respectively. The content of total flavonoids were 3.91, 4.65, 1.19, 1.55 mg/g, respectively. The content of soluble sugars were 94.95, 83.83, 86.76, 82.19 mg/g, respectively. GC-MS results showed that the relative contents of volatile components were 75.20% , 70.99% , 57.18% and 69.36% respectively in the samples dried by sun-drying, fumigation-sulfur drying, vacuum freeze-drying and 50 ℃ hot-air drying. In actual production, if the weather was fine, sun drying would be the most economical and environmentally friendly drying method. In case of overcast and rainy weather, 50 ℃ hot air drying would be used.