Comparison of Essential Oils from Marchantia paleacea Obtained by Traditional and Microwave-Assisted Hydrodistillation Methods

Abstract

The essential oils from Marchantia paleacea obtained by microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (MAHD) and conventional hydrodistillation (HD) methods were compared. For MAHD method, the effects of different parameters, such as extraction time, the moisture of the matrix and the irradiation power, on the yield of essential oils were investigated. Maximum global yields were obtained using the following conditions: extraction time, 40 min; the irradiation power, 450 V and the moisture of the matrix, 80 %. MAHD was superior in terms of saving energy and extraction time (40 min, compared with 3 h for HD). The yield of essential oils by MAHD method was ten-fold higher than that of HD method. The extracts of essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS. The obtained results were compared with references. The result also indicated that the using microwave irradiation did not change the composition of essential oils.