TITLE:
Kinetics of Convective Drying of Khaya senegalensis Bark, Fagara senegalensis Roots, and Senna alata Leaves
AUTHORS:
Abdoul Kader Sanou, Salou Hamidou, Kondia Honoré Ouoba
KEYWORDS:
Medicinal Plants, Kinetics, Diffusion Coefficient, Temperature, Drying Time
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Traditional medicine plays a key role in primary health care in Africa. The plant biodiversity used in traditional pharmacopoeia in Burkina Faso is very rich and varied. Medicinal plants such as Khaya senegalensis, Fagara senegalensis, and Senna alata are used to treat several diseases. Unfortunately, the lack of proper conservation of these plants alters the quality of the active ingredients used to treat diseases. Drying, as a method of conservation, makes it possible to have active ingredients available at all times. This study on the kinetics of convective drying of various parts of these plants focuses on the effect of temperature on diffusion coefficients. The results show that the effective diffusion coefficients increase with temperature. They range from 4.76 × 10−10 to 2.17 × 10−9 m2·s−1 for the bark of Khaya senegalensis, from 4.14 × 10−10 to 9.25 × 10−10 m2·s−1 for the root of Fagara senegalensis, and from 3.36 × 10−11 to 3.69 × 10−10 m2·s−1 for the leaves of Senna alata.