Freeze drying characteristics of medicinal herbs

The demand on traditional herb medicine shows a tremendous increase. Conven tionally, medicinal herbs are dried at high temperatures, causing quality d eterioration. The freezedrying characteristics of medicinal herbs were stud ied, and the quality of the freeze-dried products assessed. The herbs studi ed were medicinal ginger and Javanese pepper. It was found that drying time, was more influenced by chamber pressure and freezing rate than by the surface temperature of the product. Higher chambe r pressures and faster freezing rates tended to shorten the initial (primar y) drying time but lengthen the secondary drying time. Quality of the freez e-dried product was assessed as slightly lower than the quality of the raw material, but higher than when oven dried at 35-40 degreesC, and met the MM I standard.