Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Cultivation practices do not change the Salvia sclarea L. essential oil but drying process does

Author(s):

Giorgio Tibaldi, Emanuela Fontana, Silvana Nicola *

Recieved Date: 2010-07-09, Accepted Date: 2010-10-22

Abstract:

Salvia sclarea L., thanks to its essential oil profile, is cultivated in several countries in the Mediterranean Basin. Plant density and weed control are important cultural techniques that could affect flower yield of this species, while postharvest management includes factors that might affect essential oil quality, depending on whether the essential oil is extracted from fresh or dried inflorescences. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating cultural techniques on clary sage inflorescences and oil yield and the postharvest management on the essential oil quality. The field experiment consisted of testing 1) two plant densities (4.76 plants/m²; 3.17 plants/m²) and 2) two weed control techniques (manual vs. mulching). The inflorescences were split into two postharvest managements: a) fresh samples for direct essential oil extraction and b) 50°C dried samples for essential oil extraction. The interaction between weed control and plant density did not significantly affect any biometrical parameter, nor did the main factors. However, the weed control resulted fundamental to overcome the critical period after transplanting, when the plantlets are not competitive. Postharvest management only significantly influenced essential oil content (P=0.010) and 10 of the 19 compounds. The essential oil content distilled from dried herb was 0.02% (w/w) referred to fresh material, with a decrease of ca. 50% respect to the essential oil distilled from the fresh herb. The main compounds found in the clary sage essential oil were linalyl acetate, linalool and germacrene D, and constituted about 80% of essential oil. The first two compounds were significantly influenced by the drying process, whilst germacrene D was not influenced (mean value 10.38%). The reduction in linalool (12.52% to 3.10%) was followed by an increase in linalyl acetate (57.13% to 68.40%) that is the linalool ester form. The essential oil distilled from clary sage resulted similar to the essential oil composition found in Lavandula angustifolia L., reported to have an antifungal activity. The two main monoterpenes found in clary sage should be verified for antimicrobial activity, thus clary sage essential oil could be exploited in the food industry as a natural preservative. As regards the postharvest management tested, the drying process is a fundamental factor affecting the quantity and the quality of the essential oil extracted. The present work demonstrates that 50°C, the most commercial temperature used for drying, is not a suitable temperature to preserve the terpene fraction of the clary sage essential oil.

Keywords:

Lamiaceae, clary sage, weed control, plant density, mulching, postharvest management, terpenes, volatiles, linalyl acetate, linalool, germacrene D

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 790-794

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