Intermittent drying of dragon blood’s resin

Abstract

Abstract Dragon blood’s resin is one of herbal commodities from Indonesia’s forest, mainly obtained from the rattan fruits called Jernang (Daemonorops sp). The effectiveness of its simplicia as medical material is affected by, one of which, the processing stages it exposes to, i.e. the drying techniques being applied. Intermittent drying is a drying technique combining heating phase at certain temperature and period with non-heating phase at ambient temperature and certain period. The cycle was alternated until the samples being dried reach the final target condition. This study particularly investigated the effect of implementing different intermittent drying conditions on the drying rate and quality of dragon’s blood resin. Three heating temperatures, 60°C, 55°C and 55/60°C, and 2 non-heating periods, 15 and 30 mins, were applied. A 1-hour heating phase was applied and alternated regularly with the non-heating period. c. Further statistical analysis confirmed that the heating temperature levels and non-heating periods, as well as their interaction, significantly affected several quality parameters of dragon blood’s resin (dracorhodin, final moisture, ash and impurity levels). Intermittent drying with heating phase at 60°C and 15-mins non-heating period is potential for further application.