Dehydration of concentrated ganoderma lucidum extraction by combined microwave-vacuum and conventional vacuum drying

Combination of microwave-vacuum drying and conventional vacuum drying was investigated as a potential method for drying concentrated Ganoderma lucidum extraction. The Ganoderma lucidum was extracted by hot water (60-65 degrees C) and then concentrated to moisture of about 70% (wet basis) in a rising-film evaporator. The concentrated sample was dried by microwave-vacuum until the moisture content reached 10% (wet basis), and then by conventional vacuum drying at the temperature of 55-60 degrees C to final moisture content about 6% (wet basis). The retention of polysaccharide and triterpenes of Ganoderma lucidum dried by this method were evaluated and compared with those dried by freeze drying and conventional vacuum drying alone. The comparison showed that the quality of extraction dried by the current method was close to that of freeze-dried extraction and much better than that of conventional vacuum-dried ones.