Drying kinetics and effect of air-drying temperature on chemical composition of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus niruri

In this study, the drying kinetics of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus niruri were investigated experimentally in an air-drying oven as a function of drying temperature (50, 60, and 70 degrees C). The effects of the air-drying temperature on the phenolic content and the LC-MS profile were also studied. Increases in air-drying temperature reduced the drying time and increased the effective moisture diffusivity. An Arrhenius relationship with activation energy values of 22.828 and 43.129 kJ/mol for P. niruri and P. amarus, respectively, expressed the effect of temperature on the diffusivity. Air drying at 70 degrees C increased the availability of some phenolic compounds. However, the higher temperature negatively affected some sensitive components.