TITLE:
Investigating the Nutritional Value and Bioactive Components of Medicinal Herbs under Various Drying Conditions for Ruminants
AUTHORS:
Md. Ashadul Alam, Zahirul Haque Khandaker, Md. Azharul Islam Talukder, Gautam Kumar Deb, Mohammad Al-Mamun
KEYWORDS:
Medicinal Herbs, Drying Methods, Bioactive Compounds
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.7,
July
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: The research was conducted to investigate the bioactive components and nutritional values of three medicinal herbs: moringa (Moringa oleifera), pineapple waste (Ananas comosus), and plantain (Plantago lanceolata), subjected to three drying methods: sun drying, shade drying, and freeze drying. The research aimed to identify the most effective drying technique for preserving specific bioactive components in these herbs. The experiment was carried out at Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh and the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute in Savar. The herb’s proximate components were determined. The total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations in the herbs were measured using a UV spectrophotometer. The specific bioactive compounds from each herb, moringa: kaempferol and myricetin; pineapple waste: gallic acid and catechin; and plantain: aucubin and acteoside, were quantified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, the herb’s 24-hour in vitro gas production was also determined in ruminants. The herb’s moisture, ether extract, and ash contents differed significantly (P in vitro GP24 production, dOM, and ME compared to the others. It can be concluded that freeze-drying is a more effective method for preserving herbs compared to the other two methods for supplementing ruminant diet.