The effect of drying temperature, storage and distillation times on the essential oil content and composition of anis hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

This paper deals with the effect of different drying temperatures, storage and distillation times on the essential oil content and composition in anis hyssop (Agastache foeniculum Kuntze). The treatments were two levels of temperature (ambient temperature and 40°C), two levels of material storage time (immediately after drying and two month after drying) and two levels of distillation time (2 and 4h). The treatments were arranged in factorial design in base of Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The findings show that essential oil content was declined with increasing temperature degree and storage time. Distillation time did not have significant effect on essential oil content. The highest essential oil content was observed in samples air dried and immediately after drying. According to the GC and GC-MS analyses, twelve components were recognized. Methyl chavicol (97.21–98.07%) and limonene (0.76–1.44%) were main composition of essential oil. The temperature degree, storage time and distillation time did not have a significant effect on the composition of the essential oil extracted from anis hyssop.